Seven years ago, I watched a roomful of children write their first lines of code. Their faces would light up as they built games and solved puzzles, learning that they are capable of so much. A few years after that, the lights turned off for the last time and the doors closed. Code Ninjas, a youth coding center that I worked at, wasn’t able to survive as a local business. The kids that had finally found a place they felt they belonged, had nowhere to go.

That experience has stuck with me ever since. It is sadly just another example of the youth of Rapid City being neglected by our local lawmakers. Across Rapid City, activities like after-school programs, job skill training, and creative and community outlets are underfunded, understaffed, or just plain non-existent. Even places like Code Ninjas are only available to those that can afford it. Cost and transportation are two of the biggest obstacles for many families in Rapid City trying to enrich their kids’ childhoods. The lack of affordable and accessible programs and centers for children is negatively impacting the younger generations. I believe a society should prioritize the investment in the youth, they are the future after all.

Youth and Family Services (YFS), Rapid City’s largest youth nonprofit, serves over 14,000 children, 85% of whom live in poverty or “qualify for some form of assistance.” Those numbers alone show that the demand is high. Their agency focuses on helping families and young people become more financially literate and making paths out of poverty. The burden of taking care of our youth shouldn’t fall on the shoulders of a single non-profit. Investing in our youth isn’t charity, it’s as essential as our water and waste management.

It seems logical that kids who live in a town with free, publicly available parks and activities are less likely to get into trouble. Isolation is also a growing concern with screen-time rates increasing. Giving the youth spaces to hang out and interact with others combats the electronic device epidemic that we are all falling victim to.

The hard part is getting the city on board. It is going to take the voices of the community to stand up and demand better for our kids. Rapid City People’s Alliance is giving everyone an opportunity to do just that. After many surveys and one-on-one meetings with community members, RCPA drafted The People’s Agenda, (https://rapidcitypeoplesalliance.org) an agenda created to address the struggles of everyday Rapid Citians. The agenda has a section dedicated to “Community Connection”, to emphasize the importance of investing in community spaces and programming, including spaces for our youth. Other cities across the country have invested in their youth and thrive as a result, Rapid City could be one of them. 

Kids aren’t waiting around for a hand-out, they need a city that supports them and gives them opportunities to build a better future for themselves. The city council will have the opportunity to do right by the kids with the next budget cycle. Residents should speak up and show up now, make it clear that our kids deserve better.

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