Greetings my wonderful and loving SCOOP USA Family! I know it’s been a minute but believe me, my love for you will always be alive and well because “Love Always Wins!” That’s why “Our Love Will Endure Forever!” (Familiar Right!!!)
Ladies and Gentlemen, My Brothers and Sisters being one whose intimacy is real, pure, and straightforward, I wanted each and every one of you to know I sincerely missed not communicating with you! So, it feels so good whenever I have the opportunity to share my worldly sentiments, thoughtful words of encouragement, and divine expressions of what’s happening around us, with us, and/or through us! Yes, we are the “Merry-go-around” and all the world is a stage that flows through our centers! Remember, it’s Your World, Our World, let’s not lose Control of It!!! Whatever you do, do all of it in the name of “Love!” See how much I miss y’all!
Now, how about another reality check! So, what’s going on with “You?” Please tell me these extremely difficult times have not turned things around on you, but actually turned things up for you (come-on smile on that one). Well, I’m feeling really good, and my young people have a lot to do with it! Yes, I know the murders/the killings are rampant, mindboggling, heartbreaking, and are not letting up. Nonetheless, the 22nd Police District Advisory Council (PDAC) visited three neighborhoods and we were lifted up to a great horizon seeing the strength, the energy, the creativity of our youth, our children in action, on time, and on-point!
The 22nd PDAC in conjunction with Committee for a Better North Philadelphia, Inc. (CBNP), the North Central Division Victim Services, the Police Alternative Diversion Program (PAD), and Beech Communities worked in conjunction with the Athletics and Cecil B. Moore Recreation Centers and the Amos Recreation Center’s Summer Youth Programs to host a Family and Friends Day at each of them. The idea centered around getting the Police Department to connect and engage with the Young People in the Summer Camp. The police officers and our young people would have an opportunity for face-to-face interaction and sharing, which turned out to be phenomenal.
Ms. Natasha Gibson the 22nd PDAC Committee Chair for Outreach said, “We keep talking about how we need to teach our young folks how to talk and react when stopped by the Police when actually both sides should understand and know how to talk and act with one another! Showing respect and giving respect should be a two-way street. Being respectful at all times is a must for everyone, and most times, things don’t get out of hand when there is respect shown!” Ladies and Gentlemen, when one talks about teachable moments, all of you would have been proud of the poise, interactions, and exchanges that took place in the playgrounds of Athletics-Recreation Center. Those young people were off the hook or as they say, off the chain. It was a beautiful thing to see. And the police officers were gracious and committed in their answers to the questions and their postures interacting and engaging with the young people. While we would have “loved” to have seen more adults and family members, our objectives were achieved, which were to have the dialogue, interface, and interaction of our children with our police officers.
At each event, the PDAC Members distributed goodie bags for the children/youth and food boxes for the families.
Moravia Health through the efforts of Ms. Christine Brown gave away book bags at Cecil B. Moore Rec Center’s event. It was precious to hear the young people say, ”We need to do this more often at all the events!” The catch of the day was to hear one of the youths say, “They need to do more of this with the adults!” The first comment reminded me of the days when police came to schools and spoke to the children. I don’t know if they still do things like that. I do believe there should be greater interactions with the police department and the community. I know in the 22nd, our PDAC is going to host various activities to create greater interactions, and thanks to our Police Captain, Nashid Akil, and our Community Relations Officer, Janae McDowell the 22nd PDAC is given the opportunity to make it happen!
Also, on Wednesdays and Fridays from 3 pm to about 7 pm, 17th and Montgomery Ave. to Cecil B. Moore, you see a lot of activities with our youth participating in “The Gloves Up and Gun Downs Initiative.” Officer Gee and all of his volunteers, other officers, participants, and parents light up 17th Street with hopes, dreams, and elements of a surprise because when our youth and officers come together and work together amazing things can happen! Yes, it’s happening in the 22nd Police District right on 17th & Montgomery!
Amid the chaos, the deaths, the pain, and discomfort there are still some things we can raise our hands and be thankful for, and I’m going to do my best to spotlight them! Rev. Kenneth Walker the 22nd PDAC Chaplin, Members Natasha Gibson, Valeria, and Robert Chalmers, Helen Dean and Christine Brown, and Volunteer Lee Reed, Thank You. In three days of 90 plus degrees weather, you distributed over 200 hundred goodie bags, 220 boxes of food weighing over 6600 lbs. and 70 plus school bags. We thank the staff of North Central Division Victims Services for having an information table each day. We also thank the staff of Athletics, Cecil B. Moore, and the Amos Recreation Centers for their genuine support and making space for the Family and Friends Days. Jack Kennedy and Ms. Barbara from Smalls Things (where all the goodie bags and food boxes came from) made great things possible! Kudos to Brother Ron and his partner from Moravia Health, who provided book bags, tee shirts, handbags, and other terrific items which had the elders jumping and the children smiling. Most importantly, special thanks to the children and summer youth workers who were bold and exceptional in the heat but shade of the summer!!! We learned a lot, gave a lot, and will “Be Back!” These highlights will not be forgotten and will not be lost amid the other ongoing Storms!!! Our Children Are Precious, Dynamic, and Rainbow Radiant! Yes, our children are Worthy to be Saved!!!
What are You doing to stop the Madness, the Violence, the Slaughtering of Our Children! Peace and Blessings always! Here’s to Saving and Giving Space for the Answers, Brother Tyrone L. Reed
