Dear council members I am writing this letter because it has come to my attention that Belle Haven Children’s Center and Menlo Children’s center are being considered for termination. As a past employee of both facilities and a long time Menlo Park resident this greatly saddens and disappoints me. For some reason or another these programs always seem to be on the chopping block and I cant understand why. How can two programs that bring the community together, that provide equitable learning, and a safe caring environment to Menlo Park’s children be so undervalued? My first experience with BHCDC was as a volunteer during high school in Menlo Atherton. I remember how happy I felt to make a difference in children’s lives and how that first year of volunteering I realized I wanted to work with children in the future. I remember getting my first job at MCC, still in highschool, as an after school counselor. The joy I felt helping kids with their homework, the joy I felt being someone they looked up to. However, nothing prepared me for seeing my first kindergarten class 12 years later volunteering at BHCDC because they felt impacted by their counselor all those years ago. These programs aren’t just daycare or somewhere to throw kids after school, they are safe spaces that are molding the future generation of Menlo Park residents as well as future good citizens. Now as I work with High School age children, both in English as a Second Language (ESL) & Special education classrooms, the importance of preschools is even clearer. Early intervention is key to have students excel academically and socially. The east side of Menlo Park is mostly working class residents. I remember vividly sitting on the floor of my home as a child because gunshots echoed across Onetta Harris Park. This was routine for myself and many of the east side residents. I found escape in my books loaned through the small Onetta Harris library as well as the Belle Haven Branch. I mention this experience because it’s no secret that studies have shown the benefits of cities that prioritize education. Just to mention, one study published in Time magazine tracked children to the age of 28 and “found that those who had attended preschool were 28% less likely to develop alcohol or other drug problems or to wind up in jail or prison in adulthood, compared with kids who did not go to preschool. What’s more, their odds of being arrested for a felony were cut by 22% and they were 24% more likely to attend a four-year college.” The benefits of preschool are clear. The impact that these preschools have on the city is priceless. I picture Menlo Park as a healthy tree. With a strong trunk and beautiful leaf filled branches. To remove these preschools would be like removing those branches, removing the trunk and leaving only a stump. A sad reminder of what was. A thriving city prioritizing its future citizens. The future of Menlo Park starts with its youngest residents, our children, our branches. Let’s continue to nurture these tiny residents and give them the opportunity of a great future where they can succeed academically, emotionally and socially. Thank you. These programs are a part of my entire life and of my growth into the adult I now am. These programs have also impacted the lives of so many past and present residents, and hopefully future residents too. Received on Sun May 17 2020 - 19:14:18 PDT
