--- title: What do we want to be known for? Being the Best Place to Live for Kids description: Orvin Kimbrough reflects on child well-being, leadership, and why investing in children shapes the future of communities. image: https://orvinkimbrough.com/hubfs/Web+capture_1-8-2022_174823_reimaginingourfuture.org.jpeg.webp --- [![image 1-1](https://orvinkimbrough.com/hs-fs/hubfs/image%201-1.png?width=1500&height=625&name=image%201-1.png "image 1-1")](https://orvinkimbrough.com/) - [Books](https://orvinkimbrough.com/books) - [NIVRO AI](https://orvinkimbrough.com/nivro-ai) - Content - [Blog](https://orvinkimbrough.com/blog) - [Podcast](https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/the-next-move-podcast/id1790945701) - About - [Meet Orv](https://orvinkimbrough.com/about-orv) - [Contact](https://orvinkimbrough.com/contact) - [Media and Testimonials](https://orvinkimbrough.com/media-testimonials) [Join The Thriver's Path™](https://orvinkimbrough.com/begin-the-thrivers-path) [![image 1-1](https://orvinkimbrough.com/hs-fs/hubfs/image%201-1.png?width=1500&height=625&name=image%201-1.png "image 1-1")](https://orvinkimbrough.com/) [Join The Thriver's Path™](https://orvinkimbrough.com/begin-the-thrivers-path) [![image 1](https://orvinkimbrough.com/hs-fs/hubfs/image%201.png?width=114&height=48&name=image%201.png "image 1")](https://orvinkimbrough.com/) - [Books](https://orvinkimbrough.com/books) - [NIVRO AI](https://orvinkimbrough.com/nivro-ai) - Content - [Blog](https://orvinkimbrough.com/blog) - [Podcast](https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/the-next-move-podcast/id1790945701) - About - [Meet Orv](https://orvinkimbrough.com/about-orv) - [Contact](https://orvinkimbrough.com/contact) - [Media and Testimonials](https://orvinkimbrough.com/media-testimonials) [Join The Thriver's Path™](https://orvinkimbrough.com/begin-the-thrivers-path) [![image 1-1](https://orvinkimbrough.com/hs-fs/hubfs/image%201-1.png?width=1500&height=625&name=image%201-1.png "image 1-1")](https://orvinkimbrough.com/) [Join The Thriver's Path™](https://orvinkimbrough.com/begin-the-thrivers-path) - [Books](https://orvinkimbrough.com/books) - [NIVRO AI](https://orvinkimbrough.com/nivro-ai) - Content - [Blog](https://orvinkimbrough.com/blog) - [Podcast](https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/the-next-move-podcast/id1790945701) - About - [Meet Orv](https://orvinkimbrough.com/about-orv) - [Contact](https://orvinkimbrough.com/contact) - [Media and Testimonials](https://orvinkimbrough.com/media-testimonials) [Join The Thriver's Path](https://orvinkimbrough.com/begin-the-thrivers-path) # What do we want to be known for? Being the Best Place to Live for Kids ![](https://orvinkimbrough.com/hubfs/Web+capture_1-8-2022_174823_reimaginingourfuture.org.jpeg.webp) Every so often, I give myself a pep talk about possibilities, particularly as they relate to our most vulnerable population, children and youth. I aged out of the foster care system over twenty years ago. Having made it through a tough childhood, I vowed to do better by my children and other peoples’ kids. I believe that every kid has a right to live a happy and healthy life, in spite of our shortcomings as parents. Turns out, most people share this point of view, though it can be difficult to translate this into good policy, practice and programs. Most policies geared for children and youth really focus on preventing bad situations and outcomes instead of promoting and ensuring good things do happen. While the debates regarding how to achieve better outcomes for children and youth can be exhausting, I am proud that many leaders in our region are now taking a collective stand for young people. Not too long ago we affirmed as a region what we mean by child well-being as “children meeting developmental milestones along life’s continuum, and being set up for success as they become adults while enjoying being children”. Child well-being assumes that kids will develop the appropriate capacities to be resilient and the external capacities to engage with the world around them including their peers and families. Child well-being indicators are intertwined and it takes more than just focusing on one aspect of the child. It takes a community that values education. It takes children being ready to learn – that means they aren’t hungry, tired, or stressed. It takes children having a caring adult in their life. It takes access to health and medical services. It takes safety, support and trust. Missouri generally ranks near the bottom of the middle on most child well-being measures, while Illinois sees a slightly higher ranking. Our region has pockets of prosperity and pockets of utter neglect, and this, I believe, has a direct relationship with our state’s child well-being ranking. Why does this matter? It matters for the future of our region. So goes the well-being of our children, so goes our future regional competitiveness. It matters because we should all want our entire bi-state region to be the best place for kids to live. We owe a special thanks to the many people and institutions in this region who have chosen to invest through the community campaign powered by United Way.  I believe that every kid has a right to live a happy and healthy life, in spite of our shortcomings as parents. ###### — Orv Kimbrough #### Hi, I’m Orvin Kimbrough—volunteer, board director, chairman, and CEO. I help professionals move from feeling stuck to being strengthened by reshaping how they think, lead, and live. My work focuses on confidence, leadership, and influence through mindset shifts, expanded networks, and bold, values-aligned action. My perspective is rooted in lived experience—from growing up in foster care to leading complex institutions as a CEO—and shaped by faith, resilience, and a deep belief in human potential. ![Rectangle 19461](https://orvinkimbrough.com/hs-fs/hubfs/Rectangle%2019461.png?width=398&height=353&name=Rectangle%2019461.png)   ## Books for Every Stage [***Twice Over a Man***](https://www.amazon.com/Twice-Over-Man-Doggedly-Determined/dp/1955711348/ref=sr_1_3) A memoir often described as a leadership guide wrapped in an honest, relatable story of perseverance, healing, and growth. It explores how pain can be reframed into purpose and how ordinary people build meaningful lives through courage and clarity. [***More Than a Conqueror***](https://l.facebook.com/l.php?u=https%3A%2F%2Fshop.ingramspark.com%2Fb%2F084%3Fparams%3DTxWdcxD48kMFq4JCl6q8N6xELUyUMvOOCcW8D1h28GM%26fbclid%3DIwZXh0bgNhZW0CMTAAYnJpZBExVWZPbHNLOWlreXEwNzVvaHNydGMGYXBwX2lkEDIyMjAzOTE3ODgyMDA4OTIAAR4Xnzp0DAi0TCjDdZU_d_z_jvXeZTzpmqX-jTYytn_JY7PbHR96V0zDdVgJAg_aem_zCiXf98tO_kzMsGKgsMfBA&h=AT2QcqQJfTGgJz_YzXF6uc5IrcqJpsQEkTFQWwxM90T-Qi70KY-OAOrZRaagju1LRB1gtGF_hkJ-uCEFeUW-mCEb55f7NOgga0uO9gPChQlba2XFdkHePj9jDAWGRsSehJkwWeT566MqrhHI&__tn__=R]-R&c[0]=AT24IZs-rVDDTL6Ga7AaNVlaFWXrL_28ayVIUMWzqHHrZcNzcgZTpt_4HcYiIWYJ659NVuqX1e9Rk0C-fq-9xfi_4A-8Imeky5zW740lVcTEtoYn2b7xLKb9wvqTtrHeaJUta7Ck1XukJvfZ32YvekN0qbnpUTcguibwtCoXAbTaXOGmZxNWzJFbxZ1L_SJ5hDLKWIVoFw) Written for teens and young adults, this book encourages confidence, resilience, and identity formation during the years when self-belief is being shaped. [***Ward and the State***](https://l.facebook.com/l.php?u=https%3A%2F%2Fshop.ingramspark.com%2Fb%2F084%3Fparams%3DwdqQ7FopuaJaqQkUZSG1sFLjjMSN5sVtNQLMjmvFom3%26fbclid%3DIwZXh0bgNhZW0CMTAAYnJpZBExVWZPbHNLOWlreXEwNzVvaHNydGMGYXBwX2lkEDIyMjAzOTE3ODgyMDA4OTIAAR5_NsTCZ-_KHsrXmHc1VU3zjdg3q2V4d2LJrEAXyTk6oUnOwXASQz2e7opqzg_aem_en3qxyK4EFHDmFHING2rGw&h=AT3ljrY7ibgL7UyEHSLeOeid0aW-uXxvRfjpFw6K0ZHN1SYBT2vzMVP2Uc8-TxwQ-lO80FPTLIbPqnzeJwW_JGwatIzAOZtEpEkZEUpNUdwGMqKjs5yEZfe7Jxkzu2MZ3eS_feyEOrIpqiGu&__tn__=R]-R&c[0]=AT24IZs-rVDDTL6Ga7AaNVlaFWXrL_28ayVIUMWzqHHrZcNzcgZTpt_4HcYiIWYJ659NVuqX1e9Rk0C-fq-9xfi_4A-8Imeky5zW740lVcTEtoYn2b7xLKb9wvqTtrHeaJUta7Ck1XukJvfZ32YvekN0qbnpUTcguibwtCoXAbTaXOGmZxNWzJFbxZ1L_SJ5hDLKWIVoFw) A children’s book that gently introduces big ideas like belonging, courage, and hope, helping young readers see themselves as more than their circumstances   ## INTRODUCING: The Thriver’s Path™ **This blog is part of** [***The Thriver’s Path™***](https://orvinkimbrough.com/begin-the-thrivers-path)**—a growing ecosystem of writing, courses, reflections, and community designed to help people of all ages reframe their thinking, reclaim their agency, and take their next meaningful move.** ***→ Ready for your next move?*** **Explore more writings, resources, and ways to engage at** [**orvinkimbrough.com**](https://orvinkimbrough.com/home-page)**, or join the conversation inside the** [**Thrivers Club™ community**](https://orvinkimbrough.com/begin-the-thrivers-path)**.** ## Enjoyed this post? 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All the best reads, never miss an update. Subscribe Copyright © 2026 Orvin Kimbrough, all rights reserved. ```json { "@context" : "https://schema.org", "@type" : "BlogPosting", "author" : { "@type" : "Person", "name" : "Orvin Kimbrough", "url" : "https://orvinkimbrough.com/blog/author/orvin-kimbrough" }, "dateModified" : "2026-05-30T07:08:03.932Z", "datePublished" : "2026-05-08T19:38:24.000Z", "headline" : "What do we want to be known for? Being the Best Place to Live for Kids", "image" : [ "https://orvinkimbrough.com/hubfs/Web+capture_1-8-2022_174823_reimaginingourfuture.org.jpeg.webp" ], "mainEntityOfPage" : { "@id" : "https://orvinkimbrough.com/blog/we-are-all-worthy-g26kr-zkc64-p2y7g-4eg5m-t7slp", "@type" : "WebPage" }, "publisher" : { "@type" : "Organization", "logo" : { "@type" : "ImageObject", "url" : "https://orvinkimbrough.com/hubfs/ok-logo-primary-full-color-rgb-900px-w-72ppi.png" } } } ```