Community Reunion Supports Youth
by Thelma Sardin
Community residents, public officials and children gathered at Abbott Park for the fourth annual Save the Children95 Community Reunion on July 30. The picnic was organized by Save the Children95, a community-based agency that assists teens and young adults with outreach and support services.
Among the many notables in attendance were State Rep. Constance Howard (D-34), CAPS Director Ron Holt, Country Club Hills Aldermen John Edwards and Steven Burris and Illinois Appellate Court Justice P. Scott Neville, Jr.
Established in 2008, Save the Children95s founder Catherine Simmons and member Ulysses Floyd attended high school together and decided to join forces to help troubled youth reclaim their lives from gangs, drugs and alcohol.
Simmons, a registered nurse has watched the area around Abbott Park change dramatically and wanted to help the communitys youth.
The purpose of our event is to create interventions to get our youth to stop drug abuse, alcohol abuse and to focus on education, Simmons said.
Floyd, a former gang leader now works with CeaseFire and just wants to give back to his community. He said he wants to see kids live to be prosperous and productive citizens.
The organization works with seven communities: Chatham, Burnside, East and West Pullman, Roseland, Washington Heights, and Lillydale.
We are not limited to those areas, were branching out, said Simmons.
Martrice Manuel, senior program director, Alternative Schools Network (ASN) also attended Saturdays community reunion. He said ASN helps youth stay on the right path, adding, We do a wraparound program. Not only do we provide the academics, but we provide support services for the students whether its tutoring, after school programs or just being a part of a family. We look at the entire school as a family.
ASN is not-for-profit organization in Chicago working to provide quality education with a specific emphasis on inner-city children, youth and adults. Since 1973, the ASN has been supporting community based and community-run programs to develop and expand training and other educational services in Chicagos inner-city neighborhoods.
The picnic doubled as a trunk party for college bound students and every child in attendance received a free raffle ticket for a gift.
Rep. Howard attends the picnic annually and says she comes to support both Simmons and Floyd.
I have been coming to this event every since Ive known about it. Every year I look forward to it. They all know that I am concerned about young people and how we can get them on the straight and narrow path.We have to give them some attention for them to understand that somebody cares. I wouldnt say I am a part of the hands on helpingIm a part of the support group. The state representative bought notebook paper as a way to help get children ready for back to school.
CAPS Director Ron Holt who also attended the picnic said, As long as CAPS has been in existence, a lot of people dont know what it is. It stands for the Chicago Alternative Policing Strategy. It was originally designed to help bring communities together with the police department [and] build a bridge of cooperation, trust [and] unity Holt added, I see young people all the time and the message I want to get across to you [is] you have to stay in school, you have to enjoy school, listen to your teacher, you have to listen to your parents and obey your parents.
For more information about Save the Children95 and its services please visit www.savethechildren95.com
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