400+ Youth, Adults Seek Crime Prevention Information, Resource Connections
Mar 28th, 2009
The Information and Resource Fair at Incarnation Lutheran Church on Saturday, March 28th resulted in more than 400 people receiving information on crime prevention, Community Learning Centers, summer school, summer camps, recreational activities, and so much more. In fact many of the resource providers ran out of information and materials, even after more were brought in. Many of the attendees received employment applications that will translate into real jobs for youth this summer.
The success of the resource fair was the result of a truly collaborative effort. Al Hegwood and Talibah Mateen-Hooper, Safe & Sound Community Partners, worked closely with organizer Ron Johnson of the Marquette University Safe Streets Initiative. They leveraged their community connections to secure the facilities, resource presenters and to inform the surrounding community about the event. It was a significant effort with numerous individuals and organizations involved, as Ron Johnson states, “Thanks so much to all of you who helped to make this event such a success. Especially Al, Mateen and Keisha. Thanks to Officer Ray Robakowski, Roberta, Wyl, Yolanda, Paulina, India, Jody, Doris (the church), Cassandra-Casandra, and all the teachers and administrators in the schools that helped to put the word out. Thanks to Police District 5. Thanks to the Milwaukee Area Workforce Investment Board (Mr. Holloway deserves special recognition for a job well done), and the Running Rebels, MPS, the YMCA, Bee-Lievers, STV Committee, the Boys & Girls Club, WMCS 1290,the Milwaukee Health Department, CYD, Incarnation Church and all other resources and people that worked so hard on this project.”
Unfortunately, great resource fairs are all too often poorly attended. It is the 400+ attendees who made these efforts a success and worth the time and energy everyone put in to it.
