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Title: Actitud 21 Progreso
Tags: youth group, civic organization
Article: Over the past few days, a small group of young people with a few cans of spray paint did some damage to some of the lamp posts in the main park in Progreso.  They got most of the press coverage because, just like everywhere else, those kinds of headlines sell papers. However, at the same time that this vandalism was going on, another group of young people was holding a "marathon" to collect unused medication to be donated to Yucatecos in need. When the final count was made, they had collected over 4,000 different medications. When the medication was assessed, it was found that over half of it was still good. Some of the medications were expensive and badly needed by the poor who suffer from serious ailments, including coronary disease.   The group of young people who collected the medications in Progreso is part of a larger organization of young people who are active throughout the State of Yucatan. The name of the group is Actitud 21, which is a reference to the fact that they are the Yucatecos who will inherit governing this state in the 21st century. They are the same young people we watched grow up, marching for clean streets, clean water and clean air - and demanding that they get it "now!" Well, now has come and they are getting old enough to make their voices heard.   The statewide Actitud 21 has a website that explains their mission and vision for Yucatan, but it is the chapter in Progreso that is of interest to us because they have the power and ability to have an effect on the quality of life in our beach communities for the remainder of some of our lives. The following is the Progreso chapter's statement when it joined the state group:   "Attitude 21 is a Civil Association whose main intention is to promote the participation of the youth sector of the Yucateco society by means of the creation of strategies, programs and activities that contribute generally to the development of the society as a whole. Progreso is joining Attitude 21 with the firm objective of creating a large and stable group that works within the overall development of the society. We extend an invitation to all who wish to add to this great purpose, as well as those who have a sense of restlessness and wish to contribute with some program or devise a project for the development of the port's society." That statement can be found on their blog, Actitud 21 Progreso .   We wish these young people's blog had an index, so it would be easier to move through the pages. However, beginning with the latest post , it is easy enough to navigate back through the pages to see the activities of this socially responsible group of young people, especially their work with disabled children. Whenever you see the Actitud 21 banner, or a young person wearing an Actitud 21 tee-shirt, we hope you will stop and tell them how much they are appreciated. After all, these are the folks who will, all too soon, be our teachers, our business owners, our mayor, our city council members, and maybe even our governor. We are very proud of the young people of Progreso - and of all of the young people of the state - who take their civic responsibility seriously. We are the beneficiaries of their enthusiasm and their dedication to the future of Yucatan and to the quality of life we so enjoy here.