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And I believe that if we can care about whether or not our neighbor has a good job or access to affordable health care for their children, and we move to implement the policies that can improve these situations, we will unleash vast amounts of human potential and recapture the American spirit.

The reason most of the children are having problems in any inner-city neighborhood is because they don't see enough positive role models in their own environment.

If your child is starting a new school, walk around your block and get to know the neighborhood children.

As our cities have developed, they've built sometimes small villages or communities that were in place. And we've taken for granted all of that child care, the neighbourliness, the help that you get from people nearby.

We have to provide good teachers, good environment, community involvement with schools.

There's no reason why children in inner cities or rural areas do not receive the same quality education or opportunities as those in suburbs or wealthy neighborhoods. If we truly believe in giving all citizens a chance to pursue happiness and pursue their goals, then we cannot continue to marginalize entire groups of people.

Neighbors are competitors instead of partners, suspicious instead of trustful, indifferent instead of helpful, cold instead of loving, greedy instead of generous. We no longer consider ourselves living in neighborhoods, but only as living next to 'hoods.'

When one neighbor helps another, we strengthen our communities.

Every child in every neighborhood, of every color, class and background, deserves a school that will help them succeed.

We should learn to live and love our neighbors as ourselves for the sake of peace and progress.