While the project is new to Casselton, it is not a new concept. Healthy Communities - Healthy Youth is a program promoted by the Search Institute and developed, in a variety of ways, by many communities nationwide. Mayor Ed McConnell has proclaimed 2001 a year of asset building in the Casselton community. A asset is something of value to a person, something that makes that person's life better. The more assets we have, at any age, the better we are at coping, making healthy choices, and interacting with others.
Assets can be such things as skills or feelings of worth.
All people can be asset builders for others. It takes little time and effort to start adding asset-building behaviors into each of our lives on a regular basis. The whole community, especially or youth, benefit as we share the attitude with each other. You's, share someone's excitement, be a good role model and encourage others to do the same. The youth task force is a grass roots effort and was started out of a general concern for youth.