Youth: They can't bet, but Reno still cares about children
By Garnett Overby III, Outpost contributor
|
Everyone wins |
In reality, Northern Nevada, especially the cities of Reno and Sparks, have several programs to assist the youth of all ages and backgrounds, but especially those at risk for straying to a life of crime and delinquency.
Children and teens can sign up for athletic teams from baseball to cheerleading to golf to soccer through parks and recreation departments in Washoe County, Reno and Sparks. Youth also can participate in special areas of interest, such as martial arts, equestrian, arts and craft clubs, gymnastics, dance, Boys and Girls Scouts and library reading clubs, just to mention a few. These programs and groups probably are similar or identical to other youth programs throughout the country.
But Reno and Sparks go beyond the typical youth activities and offer numerous government- and community-funded programs to help low-income and at-risk children, and deter adolescents from delinquency and a life of crime.
Juvenile crime in the area has been increasing in recent years, according to Reno Police Department statistics. In the year from April 1996 to March 1997, 264 felony crimes were reported involving juveniles, as were 779 misdemeanor crimes, 30 drive-by shootings, 119 incidents with a firearm present, 34 incidents with a weapon (no firearms) present, 624 shots-fired incidents and 407 gang-related arrests. Just three years earlier, in contrast, only 162 felony and 674 misdemeanor crimes were reported involving area juveniles.
Friday and Saturday nights are times when gang activity is at its height in Reno and Sparks. This is also a time when the youth are out looking for fun and something to help pass the time, a perfect time for gang recruitment. The Sundown Zone program, operated at the 4th Street Youth Center, directly targets the youth who are more likely to get involved in gang activity and crime. It provides the youth with a safe social environment and an opportunity to learn how to compete in organized activities. The program operates Friday and Saturday nights from 6 p.m. to 2 a.m.
"The program allows for the youth to get off the streets," said Bree Carlson, director of The Sundown Zone. "We try to hire young coordinators that our youth can relate to. The youth see that young adults, just a few years older than them, have become successful without gang and crime activity. The appearance of young adults (coordinators) provides a positive image and role model."
The Latch Key Program, a before- and after-school program operated by the Washoe County School District, is another program that offers youth an alternative to gangs and crime and teaches them to effectively use their time. The program is set up to help parents who can't afford child care services. Latch Key operates at the local elementary and middle schools from 6:30 a.m. until school starts and then after school lets out until 6 p.m. The program is equipped with student-aid resources and counselors/tutors who assist in school work. The program also includes social and athletic activities.
"On rainy days we come up with activities to help the students pass the time, but get something out of it," said Mike Guider, a Latch Key counselor. "One activity that seems to work quit well is to pin on the backs of each student a character. For example, Fred Flintstone. Then the students have to ask yes/no questions of their peers to find out who the character is on their back."
The Fred Flintstone activity forces the children to interact. The main purpose of the activity is to break-up social cliques within the program. In turn, this makes the children communicate with others who they would not normally converse with.
These are just two examples of what Reno and Sparks are doing for the growth and success of area youth. Many other organizations also concentrate on the safety and success of youth who are more likely to be targeted by gangs and crime activity.
The Youth Gang Task Force is a coalition of organizations made up of the Reno Police Department, community and government officials, businesses and citizens. The Youth Gang Task Force was created by the Gang Alternative Partnership (GAP), Nevada Hispanic Services, The Children's Cabinet, The Reno Housing Authority and The Northern Nevada Black Cultural Awareness Society (NNBCAS). All of these organizations have distinct purposes in helping to prevent the increase in youth gang and crime activity.
The University of Nevada, Reno, also has dedicated itself to the growth and safety of the northern Nevada youth. The university opened the National Youth Sports Program (NYSP) in the summer of 1997.
What follows are profiles of two of these programs: The university's National Youth Sports Program (NYSP), which provides low-income children with the opportunity to be achievers and to win a real gold medal, and the Northern Nevada Black Cultural Awareness Society (NNBCAS) mentoring program, which provides middle and high school students with alternative social influences to peer and community pressures.
copyright 11/15/97 Nevada Outpost
http://www.jour.unr.edu/outpost
|
|
|
|
