PARTNERS | HEALTHY CITY | HOW HEALTHY | VISION | SUMMIT | PRIORITIES | FUNCTIONS | CITY OF FALL RIVER |
Fall
River agency representatives, police officers, youth outreach workers,
students and parents gathered at the Municipal Veterans' Memorial on
Bank Street on April 29, 2008 to talk about ways of reducing the
potential for violence in the community over the coming years. Initially
proposed as a planning session to create a Peace Summit, meeting
participants explored a number of possible avenues for both assessing
and addressing the potential for violence among youth and adults in a
more proactive manner. Ideas ranged from neighborhood crime watches to
summer and after-school activities for youth. The group began by looking
at what could be done with a community-wide event to be held in April,
2009, but also discussed holding a series of events throughout the City
based on the particular interests of each neighborhood.
The meeting was hosted by the Violence Prevention Task Force, a
committee of the
United Neighbors Community Partnership. The group plans to keep
meeting over the coming months to expand participation and ideas.
Click here for
the Herald News article about the meeting. For more information about
the project, contact
United Neighbors
director Jenny Diblasi at
508-324-7900 or
Youth Services
coordinator
Christian McCloskey
at 508-324-2419. |
||
(Top row, left) Lt. Jeff Cardoza and Fall River Police Officer John Lapointe, in his Special Operations Division tee shirt, listen as Youth Outreach Worker Jordohn Bileau, Child and Family Services Parent Support Program director Melissa Newton, Family Support Advocate Ana Aubut of United Neighbors, and Rebecca Arruda of the Women's Center share their ideas on how best to lower the potential for violence within the City. (Top row, center) Dawn Nardi of Kool Smiles, Lt. Cardoza and May Institute Children's Services Program director Janet Shartle listen as United Neighbors director Jenny Diblasi describes some possible ways of organizing a Summit. (Top row, right) Youth Outreach Workers Jason Oliveira and Jordohn Bileau listen as Dan Fitzgerald makes a point. (Middle row, left) Fall River Youth Services coordinator Christian McCloskey and Fall River Herald News reporter Will Richmond listen to the discussion. (Middle row, right) Melissa Newton suggests ways that neighborhood groups could get involved. (Bottom row, left) Student Anthony Espinola sits across from Christian McCloskey and Fall River Housing Authority Executive Director Tom Collins at the gathering. (Bottom row, center) Parent Susan Belmore of the Flint neighborhood suggests some ways of helping residents reduce crime in the city. (Bottom row, right) Youth Outreach Worker Jason Oliveira makes a point with Lt. Cardoza as Jordohn Bileau and Korin Pensao listen. |
Return to the Partners Home Page