IN 1961, President John F. Kennedy made a proclamation that the United States would land on the moon within the decade. He called on the country's engineers and mechanics, inventors and ordinary citizens to answer the challenge he set before the nation. By 1969, Neil Armstrong took his giant leap onto the moon.

After the Colts left town in 1984, Baltimore decided to pursue another NFL team. Maryland committed to building a state-of-the-art stadium to attract one. A team was secured in 1995, the Ravens' home was built, and we soon celebrated our Super Bowl champions.

These are but two examples of our ability time and again in America, and in Maryland, to come together, resolve to take action and attain any goal. We don't stop short or put it off; we do what needs to be done.

But when it comes to the negative conditions facing children and families in Baltimore, our resolve somehow turns into "the challenge is too big" or "we don't have the resources." Our inability to collectively focus on making our community great for kids, despite the valiant efforts of many, means that too many of our young people continue to be deprived of the opportunity to thrive.

Although our hearts may be in the right place when it comes to giving kids the opportunities they deserve, our actions tell our young people they are not valued as they should be.

Public officials and political candidates point to economic development as the key to improving conditions in Baltimore. Of course, economic development is vital to our future, but it is difficult to achieve without investments in our communities. Economic development plans rely on people's willingness to send their kids to our schools, shop in our stores and move into our neighborhoods. Without true community resolve to make this a city where all residents have the opportunity to thrive, our economic development efforts will meet with limited success.

What about our budget shortfall? Where will we get additional money to invest in kids?

The good news is we can actually save tax dollars if we invest in our children now instead of paying for problems later. For example, home visiting programs for expectant mothers to promote healthy births cost $4,500 per case, while neonatal intensive care for underweight and drug-addicted babies costs more than $27,000 per case.

Comprehensive residential drug treatment programs for parents cost $22,500 per person, while paying for kids to live in foster care costs an average of $50,000 per child.

Preschool programs that build social and educational skills save $7 for every dollar spent on remedial education, welfare and criminal costs.

It is with sound investments in children now that we spare ourselves greater financial burdens in the future. We know what we must do to build the future of this state, and we are slowly achieving progress. Now we must resolve as a community to accelerate our progress by making improved conditions for children and families our top priority.

We must ensure that kids get a fair start by being born healthy, and we can do that by launching a comprehensive infant mortality reduction initiative, which was part of the campaign platform of Gov.-elect Robert L. Ehrlich Jr.

We must help build safe and nurturing families for our children to thrive in, and we can do that by supporting substance abuse programs for parents with young children.

We must ensure that children get the most out of their education by making certain they enter school ready to learn by funding Maryland's "Children Enter School Ready to Learn" plan.

We must help kids succeed in school by providing full funding for the Thornton Commission recommendations.

We must ensure that kids have the opportunity to make healthy choices by giving them safe, supervised and structured activities after school. We can do that through increasing the state's After School Opportunity Fund, which earmarks $10 million to assist parents in providing after-school care and programs.

And we must ensure our kids live in safe neighborhoods. We can do that through coordinated law enforcement efforts and community supports to address gun violence.

Our state's highest elected officials should follow in the footsteps of great leaders before them. They must challenge the legislature, community leaders and ordinary citizens to show young people they are valued and appreciated -- with action, not just words.

We must let our children know that not only do they matter, but that without them, nothing else does.

Hathaway Ferebee is executive director of Baltimore's Safe and Sound Campaign.