Melvin Ladousier: Want to invest in youth, then spend time with them

Re “Investing in youth will pay off,” (Letters, March 5): This city has already invested more than enough revenue in creating and maintaining facilities for youth activities. It is time for parents to realize, as my parents did and I did, that what is needed is parental involvement. As a parent I was involved in organizing and participating in youth programs from baseball and soccer, to swimming and 4H shooting sports and animal projects. As parents in soccer and baseball we recruited businesses to sponsor team uniforms, sold products door to door and at shopping centers for money to purchase team equipment, etc.

We encouraged our children to participate by taking them to practices and games, coaching and providing sideline cheering sections. Throwing money at the children is not making them a priority. Parents spending their time and energy on their children makes youth “a priority” for Merced.

This story was originally published March 15, 2016 at 5:16 PM with the headline "Melvin Ladousier: Want to invest in youth, then spend time with them."