2008 Proclaimed The Year Of Integrity

Jan. 16, 2008 - PRLog -- Governors Sonny Perdue of Georgia, M. Jodi Rell of Connecticut, Kathleen Blanco of Louisiana, Bill Ritter of Colorado, Steven Beshear of Kentucky and Jim Doyle of Wisconsin have declared 2008 as the Year of Integrity for their state.  Governor Bob Riley of Alabama and Governor Chet Culver of Iowa have declared March 2008 as the Month of Integrity for their states.  The Governors’ proclamations and letter of support recognize the need to encourage all citizens to help students grow into complete individuals of character.

Octavia Brown, Founder and Executive Director of A Rare View and organizer of the Mothers of America Campaign a call to action to make 2008 the Year of Integrity said “We all know that integrity affects every aspect of our personal, family, community and business interactions therefore, the Year of Integrity must become an adult theme transcending political, religious, racial and socio-economic divides.”  
 
According to Mrs. Brown, the purpose of The Year of Integrity is to promote the total education of children, which not only provides the necessary academic skills for success today but also the values, class and character needed to ascend to the highest levels of achievement.  In addition, in 2008 parents, grandparents, foster parents, and guardians should be encouraged to recognize the important role they play in teaching children the value of life and the meaning of integrity.

“Children are one of America’s most valuable resources and our best investment in the future of our Nation.  The Virginia Tech and Nebraska Mall shooting touched the heart of all Americans and we must collectively teach our children the value of life and the meaning of integrity.  Also, during The Year of Integrity, high school and college students should be encouraged in civic engagement and democratic learning and act as mentors or tutors to younger students” said Annette Bellamy, Program Director of A Rare View.  

“The Mothers of America Campaign is happy to see our Nation’s Governors supporting integrity. Actually, only the States of Nevada, Nebraska and Vermont respectfully declined to participate and California did not respond.  A Presidential Proclamation was also declined. All other states considered participating with an in state sponsor and we are expecting some states to proclaim a Month of Integrity instead of a year.  Overall our Nation’s Governors have placed a high priority on children and integrity,” said Mrs. Brown.

Both Mrs. Brown and Ms. Bellamy are coordinating efforts for the Year of Integrity celebration in each state.  The Year of Integrity provides the perfect opportunity for the Mothers of America Campaign to promote increased family and community involvement in teaching children the value of life and the meaning of integrity.  The Year of Integrity activities include rallies, seminars, workshops and award ceremonies.   All elected officials, celebrities, entertainers, educators and business owners are invited to become motivational speakers or sponsors, high school and college students are invited to become mentors or tutors, non-profit organizations and corporations and are invited to become sponsors and everyone is invited to participate in some capacity.

“If everyone followed the example of our Governors think of what The Year of Integrity would mean not just to the children of the United States but to the children of the world because again integrity transcends political, religious, racial and socio-economic divides” said Ms. Bellamy.

A Rare View is a non-profit 501(C)3 educational and crime prevention consultancy that specializes in developing programs that help break the cycle of academic failure and crime among at-risk youth and juvenile offenders.

If you would like additional information concerning The Year of Integrity, 2008 please contact Octavia Brown (770) 969-0437 or email:oabrown6@yahoo.com.

# # #

Founded in 1996, A Rare View is a unique 501©3 non-profit educational and crime prevention consultancy.  We specialize in developing educational programs that help break the cycle of academic failure and crime among at-risk middle school youth and juvenile offenders.

Our holistic approach and belief that strong communities build strong families have committed the company to four core values that define the basis of our programs: education, community, rehabilitation, responsibility.

Website: www.arareview.org