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Show LocaCOeivs Community-base- d solutions to addition in governmental necessary gang prevention T ( M. The National Youth Sports Program (NYSP) began in 1968. The program is a partnership between the U.S. Department of 'W 7 1VY ' V.V ' - t ! 1 " - of 7V v f Health and Human Scrvices(DHHS), and the i nations colleges and universities, acting v i through the National Collegiate Athletic Association(NCAA). i This summer, for the first time, NYSP I i reaches Utah; 250 economically disadvan(.' IN THE COMMUNITY 1 taged children, between the ages of 10 and 6 will participate. Any child residing within the t tj. Jackson or Lincoln Elementary school boundby William Athey aries is eligible. For five weeks this summer Forum contributing writer they will mcetatthe two schools forbreakfast and then travel to the University of Utah. Last week, Utah Gov. Mike Leavitt met At the University they will receive expert with SaltLake City Mayor DeedeeCorradini, instruction in a variety of sports including; Salt Lake City Police Chief Ruben Ortega basketball, gymnastics, softball, swimming, and other law enforcement officials to disvolleyball and wrestling. NYSP is not just a cuss Utahs growing gang problem. All the sports program. The NYSP staff helps the officials asked for more money. Salt Lake children develop personal and social skills City has $50,000 in the budget for an through educational instruction. The chilprogram and a person to run it. A dren attend classes in alcohol and drug prePhoto by Mike Weaver special Gang TaskForce is currently vention, nutrition and personal health, career on SaltLake City streets. Drive-b- y shootings ball Risk at Youth game. Central at run Batter tries for a home Citys opportunities and job responsibilities and and gang violence are on the increase. These other topics relevant to their community. are the stories that capture the headlines. Less Both boys and girls will be involved. Reed foods from different ethnic publicized, yet possibly far more effective, formed in August 1991. Gang activity was learn to prepare cultures. The Youth AtRiskprogram has also said the number of girls involved in gang efforts of a few increasing in the Glendale area; the commuare the community-base- d taken the kids skiing, paid a visit to Camp activity is increasing and more programs for dedicated individuals. nity was angry, and they wanted to do someTuttle and participated in graffiti paint-outgirls are needed. NYSP is one such program. member who thing. Frank Garcia is an Two other community based programs, Burt believes there is no such thing as an Each of the founding members became believes the graffiti problem is best solved child. She said, All kids are high targeting elementary and junior high school by making the artists paint over their own involved for a different reason. Minson lives Youth At Risk program does not children, both boys and girls, are the Central graffiti, not by having a city employee do it in the Glendale area, and the idea for the risk. The the discriminate, it is open to all children. The City little league baseball program and He believes in counseling kids before they program came from her neighborhood. summer Central City Babe Ruth baseball league. Chil-- . are in a gang, not in more courts and jails to Hamilton became involved because of her program began last August as a has carried it dren in the little league program, aged 6 to 1 2, deal with them after. Hebelieves there should son, Burt helped because she has two young only program but momentum in play a schedule of 18 games beginning be expanded sports and community based sons she would like to see grow up without through the winter. MAGICS most recent program is a joint April and continuing through July. Children high-age- d fear of gangs. Parker became involved be- programs for younger kids, junior and 13 to 16 play a similar schedule in the Babe and younger, not a basketball league cause of problems her oldest son was having. effort with Charter Summit Hospital Ruth program. arc forming a Parent Support for older gang members. His goal is to use According to Burt, the number one goal of MAGIC. They School. The Central City leagues emphasize basehis life experience in the gang prevention MAGIC is to educate the community. They Group at the Lincoln Elementary much need for ball skill development, but the children deeffort. He is coaching a PeeWee baseball have made educational presentations at PTA Burt believes parents have as use throughout something to do as kids. The flyer for the velop other skills they can team in Central City and giving his input to meetings, churches, Gang Task Force Constressed their lives. The leagues stress the importance elected officials. ferences and schools. MAGIC members also program ad vertises,4 Are you feeling of developing the ideals of teamwork, disciThere are other members of the commusit in on local gang task force meetings in out as a parent? Are your children giving you Join us and let pline, good sportsmanship and positive selfprograms workorder to gain information on current gang problems? You are not alone. nity and community-base- d the children through monthly parents help parents! The first meeting was esteem among ing at the grass roots level, trying to make a situations, and to give their input coaches meetings. held on April 14. MAGIC sponsors the Youth At Risk prodifference in a few kids lives. Their solutions There are 205 children currently regisMAGIC is a community based effort at and ideas are similar to Garcias, but not gram through the Central City Community Youth At tered in the little league program and approxithe identical. Center. Burt and Hamilton are volunteers in gang prevention. Burt hopes Risk program and the Parent Support Group mately 150 have registered for the Babe Ruth . Katrina Burt became interested in gang this program, and they work in conjunction will in time spread to other communities. league. prevention when her neighbor, Ula Hamilton, with a counselor from the Salt Lake County the feel The MAGIC program, NYSP, and the Burt to gang people many According pounded on her door at 2 a.m. An armed gang Recreation Department are preven-- . problem does not affect them because it isnt Central City baseball programs member had broken a window and climbed Burt believes that, without positive alterin their neighborhood. She said, It may not tion programs; they attempt to reach the through it into Hamiltons home. He was natives kids have no choice other than to join children before they become involved in gang a gang. The Youth At Risk program is affect you now, but it will eventually. threatening Hamiltons son. The gang memd BurtsactivitiesbcganbyformingaNeigh-borhooactivity. ber lived in an apartment above Burts. Her offering that positive alternative! According If you are interested in the MAGIC proher in Watch neighborprogram boyfriend, Kent, had dealt with him in the to Burt the program was originally developed isn t hood and acting as the block leader. Monica gram or the Parent SupportGroup call Katrina past Hamilton sought Kents help to get the for junior high children because, there 2 Colleen Hamilton at Reed, Crime Prevention Specialist with the Burt at anything else around for that age group. gang member out of her home. Division of Salt Lake or Stacie Parker at 965-951Gang members had been harassing Tuesday andFriday nights are Youth AtRisk Community Support The NYSP program has several summer Police Department, helped Burt form Hamiltons son for some time. He had renights at the Central City center. Tuesday City the group. According to Reed there are 1 ,566 job openings for instructors,- group leaders night. fused their offers to join the gang. While nights are now an identified gang members in the Salt Lake and student leaders. The program is currently inciParticipants in Youth At Risk are curcleaning up the broken glass from this and 40 active gangs. 93 of the gang registering children interested in participatdent, Hamilton and Burt decided they had to rently involved in a Chance program on Valley 7 are female and 65 ing, they must live within the Jackson or do something. They contacted theMetro Gang Tuesday nights. The class is taught by a members are male Lincoln school boundaries. Call MonicaRecd are adults with 35 under the age of 18. Task Force. Monica Reed and Kevin Crane, representative of the Drug Prevention Coaliin for more information on the job at 799-344- 7 Reed works to educate the community tion. It is an assertive communication skills members of the Community Support Diviis only opportunities, registeringachildforNYSPor class. Tuesday nights are also set aside for crime prevention. Gang prevention sion of the SaltLake City Police Department, for information on crime prevention and the has one of her concerns. She helps communities came to help them set up a Neighborhood sports activities. Burt says the group form Neighborhood Watch programs. She Neighborhood Watch program. Watch program. Shortly after, Reed called participated in everything from lacrosse, socoh crime The Central City leagues need money to and told Burt about a planning meeting in the cer and floor hockey to the kids favorite; also gives educational presentations purchase equipment and to pay the registraprevention, rape prevention and senior citiGlendale area. The idea was to form a new basketball. tion fees of children who cant afford them. If 12 zen crime prevention. Friday nights are set aside for kids aged group. The groups name was Mothers Like Burt' she believes gang prevention you or the company you work for are interand older. It is an activities night and past Against Gangs. Burt and Hamilton attended kids. She said the ested in sponsorship and advertising opporactivities have included visits to the 49th must, start with younger the groups first meeting. 531-72or Midnight Basketball league is a good idea, tunities call Doug Zumwalt at With a slight name change. Mothers Street Galleria, Jazz games, Trappers baseYour company can males aged 16 to Bill Athey at 485-762ball games, the circus and KRCL Radio to but the targeted age group, Against Gangs in the Community (MAGIC), 20, is too old. Reed described a program, new purchase ahighly visible4 foot by 8 foot sign, began at that meeting. The four founding meet the Friday night disc jockeys. (Friday in a high traffic area, on 700 E. near 1300 S to Salt Lake City , which reaches the right age members of MAGIC were Burt, Hamilton, night is rap night at KRCL.) Another popular for only $250. is cooking. The kids group. Stacy Parker and Colleen Minson. The group Friday night activity Forum? Pace 11 1993 M ' f ir , ?' 4 anti-graff- iti s. ex-ga- ng at-ri- sk . 521-321- 973-494- 0, 7. all-ag- es 43 6. April 20, |