Mark Core | Educator, East High School
The Idea: Our biggest challenge is providing genuine economic opportunities throughout every neighborhood of Des Moines. The institution that is by far best positioned to remediate the problems is our public schools. The fact is school districts alone possess both the physical infrastructure and human capital strategically deployed throughout Greater Des Moines. Creative thinking by the public schools coupled with partnerships among social service agencies, nonprofit organizations, mental health providers, the juvenile justice system, local businesses and religious organizations would be a force multiplier capable of lifting thousands of families out of poverty and providing a meaningful path toward achieving the American dream. >