The two teen boys were involved in the juvenile justice system in some way, though they didn't discuss the particulars. They were "planting" pinwheels in front of the Spokane County Courthouse on Tuesday afternoon as part of a county Our Kids: Our Business press conference.

A journalist asked the boys what they thought about the Our Kids: Our Business initiative. The adult with them said the teens didn't know much about the program. But the boys got it.

One said, "This is a good community service." The other nodded in agreement. And what can adults do to help kids? The boys gave this advice: Ask more questions. See what we're doing with our spare time. If your kids will be out all day, get their schedule. If they have a cell phone, call it.

The young people who assembled the 37,000 Our Kids: Our Business pinwheels are in the juvenile justice system. Some are in detention.

"Eighty to 85 percent of families don't come to visit," said Susan Cairy, volunteer programs coordinator with Spokane County Juvenile Court.

In April, Inland Northwest adults are being asked to sign the Call to Action pledge in support of young people. Some will be called to the action of volunteer work. Some will work with troubled juveniles. It's not the easiest gig. Compared with smaller children, juveniles are often not as cute. They can be pimply, gangly, hygienically challenged. They can shroud themselves in anger and sullenness. Some are children masquerading as know-it-all adults. And some are excruciatingly lonely.

Volunteer for Neighborhood Accountability Boards and you'll meet mostly first-time juvenile offenders. You'll be the one to explain the community ramifications of crimes such as shoplifting.

Sign up* for the detention volunteer or visitation programs, and you'll spend time with young people in detention. You may never know if listening for one hour to a teen's story, or playing a game of Monopoly, or asking the right questions, made any difference. Your heart may break in the doing of this work. So why do it?

Cairy says it best: "You can shake your finger (at juveniles). You can shake your head. But volunteer and you can become the voice for those who have no voice."

From The Spokesman-Review Editorial Board
April 6, 2008
Editor@Spokane.net

*For information on volunteer opportunities in juvenile justice programs in Spokane, contact Susan Cairy at (509) 477-2469 or e-mail her at scairy@spokanecounty.org.