A mom of two sons in Shoreline, Washington sent the message below to members of the House State Government & Tribal Relations Committee, including the committee chair Representative Bill Ramos (D-Issaquah). She was expressing support for House Bill 1270, which would establish a commission focused on improving the well-being of Washington’s boys and men.
On January 22 we published an update on the campaign backing HB 1270.
The cutoff for holding hearings, February 17, is fast approaching, and the committee chair has yet to schedule a hearing for HB 1270. It is now the third longest-sitting bill in this committee to not receive a hearing — despite having three Democratic co-sponsors.
The letter below is one of many letters of support for HB 1270 submitted to lawmakers as part of the grassroots campaign expressing care and concern for Washingtons boys and men.
Dear Representative Ramos,
My name is Jamie. I live in Shoreline, WA (King County) and I wholeheartedly support the formation of a Commission on Boys and Men (HB 1270). Please give this bill a hearing.
I am the mom of two sons ages 23 and 29. I coached their soccer teams for a total of 15 years, and I ran the Youth Referee Program for 17 years. Because of my experience with boys, I am known as the ‘boy wrangler’ for community events when we get hands-on help from local high school kids.
I have seen a change in the last 5 to 7 years. These boys are sad.
My friend’s son – a nice happy boy, happy family, 20 years old – committed suicide at work in the parking lot of a local store three summers ago. The entire community was, and still is, grief-stricken. Another boy, a kid I coached, fell into Lake Washington on a hot day in June when a bunch of them were partying on the lake, and he drowned. That happened 18 months ago. The entire close-knit community was devastated, again. I wanted to reach out to the family. I just couldn’t. Not with the other death still so fresh. How awful is that? What can be said? It’s beyond grief and sadness.
I knew those boys. I ask my own boys, “How can we help you? Please tell us.” They don’t know. All they know is that they need help and it’s beyond their knowing and understanding.
I recently started a program at Shorewood High School called Career Open Mic where I bring in working adults to share what they do with kids, to show that life isn’t a straight, perfect path. My hope is to make connections, maybe build some mentoring opportunities, create optimism and hope. But, honestly, I’m no expert. I’m just guessing here. I would welcome some guidance myself.
That’s why I support the formation of this commission. Parents, communities, our own boys want to know…so we can save them…because we love them. Because they have so much to contribute to the world. Please form this commission and tell us how to help.
Jamie
See related: ‘4 out of 5 youth suicides in Washington are males’: Our testimony to legislators in Olympia [Video]
See also: Education Superintendent Chris Reykdal Responds to Question on Lack of Males at Universities [Video]