The most pressing concerns in our lives are the ones closest to home that affect our children, our neighborhoods and our families. We often fear for the future of the young people we see around us, and try to help them avoid pitfalls that trap too many young lives in a prison of addiction or prevent them from reaching their full potential.

Oneida County is working on a project that will help connect the people of every neighborhood in our county with people who can help them solve problems they want to tackle.

Our effort is called "Communities That Care." It is an outgrowth of community-wide meetings that began not long after the Littleton, Colorado, tragedy in April 1999, and subscribes to the belief that a family-friendly community must reach out and engage its citizens in a wide range of activities to create a community where the needs of all citizens are met.

Our goal is very simple, although it requires a lot of energy and commitment from leaders, citizens, educators, business people and our youth. We want to create a vehicle that can help the neighbors of our village, town and city neighborhoods get the help they need to turn around families, neighborhoods and communities. Neighbors will provide the priorities and goals. "Communities That Care" will provide research and resources to help local groups work together on problems that go beyond local borders.

On February 27, at Hamilton College, we will cap months of efforts by bringing together a cross-section of agencies, companies, faiths, governments and businesses to set some concrete, measurable goals and suggest some first steps for our efforts. During this session, we will look at goals, opportunities and challenges in areas such as Strengthening Families, Strengthening Neighborhoods, Youth Empowerment, School/Community Partnerships, and Jobs and Economic Growth.

We will build upon the work of a diverse coalition of human service providers, community leaders, business people and interested citizens who have been assembling a framework that can effectively work with all segments of our region, connecting resources and needs to mobilize the great spirit of action that is a hallmark of our America.

I urge anyone who can to become a part of this process, as we near the naming of our "Communities That Care" Board, which will begin its work this spring.

"Communities That Care" is an effort at collaboration in which we will bring together people and organizations to help our residents. Whatever happens will be the fruits of the work of families and neighbors who want to make our communities better places in which to live and work, and who use opportunities such as this to unite with potential partners.

"Communities That Care" is a new initiative, but not a new philosophy. Oneida County was built through the incredible spirit of community that brought Americans together to solve individual, family and community concerns. "Communities That Care" brings that building block of our heritage into our fractured, fast-paced, point-click world.

"Communities That Care" will not provide a one-size-fits-all prescription. Our county is too diverse for such a simplistic approach. What it will do is arm us with resources and energy to unleash the incomparable problem-solving ability of our citizens when we are working hand in hand to establish our shared visions.

When the people of Oneida County come together, whether we are in Boonville or Bridgewater; Camden or Cornhill, we focus on the same issues that keep us awake at night – building and maintaining healthy families in a time when stresses can push families to the breaking point; problems that could and do lead to drug and alcohol use and abuse among our children; creating neighborhoods that are safe, healthy and nurturing for our families; finding solid economic opportunity without sacrificing family time in the process; and ensuring the academic success of our children.

Working together through "Communities That Care," we can build stronger families, stronger neighborhoods and stronger communities. To all who want to be part of a better future, I can say only that we will welcome all ideas with open minds, and all our neighbors who join us with open hearts and arms. Join us February 27 at Hamilton College to share ideas, and then participate in "Communities That Care" as we turn our ideas into actions.