Letters: Support urged for Buckeye Ranch's 'My Place' program for transitioning youths

Letters to the Editor
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Letters: Support urged for Buckeye Ranch's 'My Place' program

Jahmie Woods, 19, (center) hugs Rick McElroy to celebrate a point they scored and music therapist Kayla Stubblefield applauds during a music therapy session at My Place, a program at the Buckeye Ranch that helps young central Ohio adults aging out of foster care or transitioning from group homes live on their own.
Jahmie Woods, 19, (center) hugs Rick McElroy to celebrate a point they scored and music therapist Kayla Stubblefield applauds during a music therapy session at My Place, a program at the Buckeye Ranch that helps young central Ohio adults aging out of foster care or transitioning from group homes live on their own.

My heart goes out to the young people highlighted in Dispatch reporter Danae King’s article “Going from foster care to living on their own:  My Place helps young adults with transition” in the 3/23 edition.

Starting out on your own is difficult enough.  But for those who must do so by transitioning from either foster care or group housing, and without the financial, experiential, and emotional help and support provided by loving and caring parents and families, the task is often very difficult to near impossible.

As one answer to this dilemma, Buckeye Ranch runs the program called “My Place,” which seeks to provide a safe and nurturing environment whereby these young people receive educational opportunities, counseling, and a  positive atmosphere to become successful in their adult lives.

I’m sure that whatever costs are involved they far outweigh the consequences and expense of doing nothing.  As the sayings go, “A stitch in time saves nine” and “You can pay me now or pay me later”.  And, just think of the life-saving and positive effect this program has on the lives of some of the most needy in our society, through no fault of their own.

I urge everyone to try and read this article and/or contact Buckeye Ranch to obtain more information and learn how you can help and support this worthwhile program.

Joe Barmess, Pataskala

Ohio's new voter ID law restrictive and disenfranchising

As a military veteran and first-generation Chicano, I’ve witnessed firsthand how marginalized populations turn out in lower numbers on election day because of barriers to voting. Ohio's new voter ID law is restrictive and disenfranchising college students, seniors, military personnel and families, people with disabilities, low-income, and non-white voters who are historically excluded from the electoral process. Approximately 10% of Ohioans do not have a Ohio driver’s license or state-issued identification card.

How does Ohio's voter ID law work:How Ohio's new voter ID law compares to other states

I would like to use my county veteran ID card as a valid ID. However, my veteran ID card no longer qualifies as proper identification to vote. (Only IDs issued by the federal or state governments qualify under the new Ohio law). Furthermore, I’ve been waiting since mid-February for my Ohio ID from the Bureau of Motor Vehicles to arrive due to the highly irregular mail service where I live.

I encourage the Dispatch to continue educating voters and to call upon Ohio Secretary of State Frank LaRose and county Boards of Elections statewide to run robust voter education programs explaining how voting laws have changed. Also, this is a call to action for every Ohioan to be part of the electoral process by volunteering to become poll workers or to assist voters through election protection programs with nonpartisan groups like the Ohio Voter Rights Coalition, League of Women Voters, Vote Riders, or the NAACP.

Armando Telles, Columbus

This article originally appeared on The Columbus Dispatch: Letters: 'My Place' program works, Ohio Voter ID law doesn't