As a high school and university teacher for twenty years, I was privy to the secret lives of adolescents. It scared me. Too many beautiful young people fighting inner battles, surrounded by caring but unknowing adults who were blind to the turmoil their children wrapped in secrecy. When we founded The Ophelia Project in 1997, we were both enlightened and reeling from the messages in Dr. Mary Pipher’s books, "Reviving Ophelia" and "The Shelter of Each Other." The words gave us the language we needed to talk about what we all saw happening to our children - in our homes, our schools, and our communities.

It was apparent that the sounds of what had seemed to be the joyful song of youth had become disconsolate. Electric “aha’s!” went off in my consciousness. Yes, our children ARE living in a very different culture then a few generations past. Yes, we do see our mass culture becoming more and more dysfunctional. Yes, it is harder to raise our children today than in the Ozzie and Harriett days. Some of these revelations were frightening, but I saw hope in knowing I wasn’t completely off the chart - things WERE happening; the issues were real, someone had the strength to speak out, and that meant that change could be at hand.

We make ongoing choices in our view of the world - accept, reject, or at worst, ignore. These virulent times call for people who can see the paradoxes in our culture, but rather than simply fall in line, make the decision to work for positive change. We're no doubt blessed to live in a country with unparalleled riches, yet enveloped in this affluence, we have lost many of the human connections that make us feel whole. Our children have never had more opportunities offered, yet, by the same token, more exposure to the underside of a culture that conspires to rob them of their childhood, inundate them with images they can never emulate, and force them into the corner of having to make decisions about their lives long before they have the developmental assets to understand either the near or long term consequences that a poor choice might bring.

In the years since founding The Ophelia Project, the picture has grown worse. Those problems sounded out in student journals, class discussions, and private conversations are more shocking today. Am I daunted by this knowledge? No. I see too much good happening. Parents coming to grips with the real needs of their children. High school students working with younger children as mentors and role models. Administrators working to change the social climate within their school; helping children and adults to be more caring, more supportive, more compassionate. Volunteers working with children and other parents, helping their schools, and reconnecting with their neighbors. Whole communities coming together to make their culture a safer and more forgiving place for kids.

Can a culture be changed? Of course. But it takes a critical number of vocal and committed individuals who, banding together, say, enough is enough. As one of this chorus, I refuse video games that promote violence and sex. I spend more time with my children. I support the teachers in my child’s school, even when things are not going just as I would like. The craziness of this fast paced, consumer oriented, technology driven culture will be modified when we individually, and moreover, as part of a group, speak the message, “Hey, I don’t have to live like this anymore. I can make other choices. I am not to blame for this craziness, but I will take responsibility for making changes in my life. I’m going to be a part of the solution. And I’m going to find like-minded people, and we will work on this together.”

So with The Ophelia Project, I helped move "I" to "We," and structured as a nonprofit, we worked to build an organization with the strength and resolve sufficient to harness the great spring of wisdom, resources, hope, love, and expertise already in our community. The underlying belief was that we COULD change the culture, and these many years later, a great number have joined us: whole communities, schools and other organizations with the same mission. In this effort, we are not alone. As part of our effort, you are not alone.

From the first revelation of the secrets years ago, The Ophelia Project has had a vibrant center. From this home base, we offer tools and expertise to show communities how to organize their own initiatives, dedicated to making their community safer for children. We have mapped our progress in a way that allows sharing of secrets, programs, and skills. We work with schools to help them create a safe social climate for every child in attendance. We show communities how they can use already in place resources to support their schools in this effort. We train young people to be mentors and role models and make them the cornerstones of our programs. We are an organization with valuable tools to recruit, train and organize volunteers into a powerful force in your community.

Your backyard is not immune to the intrusion of negative influence, and without your voice, your strength, and your resolve, your children and grandchildren will be forced to face these hurdles without a resource for help and support. I encourage your taking advantage of any of the tools and programs that The Ophelia Project offers, and moreover, I invite your active participation as a member, a financial sponsor, and an active volunteer with our group.

The best day for making a change is today, and we'll embrace your decision to join with us in this important work.

* Susan Wellman
Founder and Director Emerita
The Ophelia Project