Pubdate: Sat, 26 Jan 2002
Source: Item, The (SC)
Copyright: 2000 The Item
Contact:  http://www.theitem.com/
Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/1105
Author: Braden Bunch

SOUTH SUMTER RECEIVES FEDERAL GRANT TO FIGHT DRUGS

Organization Set To Tackle Problem At Grassroots Level

Michael Walker talks to members of the South Sumter Citizens' Committee and 
members of law enforcement about ways to reclaim a community from drugs and 
crime. Walker spoke to the group on Thursday night at M.H. Newton Family 
Life Enrichment Center.

The South Sumter Citizens' Committee war against drugs has received a boost 
both emotionally and financially.

Working together with the Clemson University Extension Service, the 
citizens' committee has been awarded a $99,425 federal grant from the Drug 
Free Communities Partnership, an office co-founded by the Department of 
Justice and the Office of National Drug Control Policy.

The grant is refundable for up to the next five years as long as the group 
shows it is achieving its goals, said Clemson Extension Agent Barbara 
Brown. That would make it possible for the group to have nearly a 
half-million dollars to work with through the year 2006.

"We're really excited about the grant," said Regina McBride, chairwoman of 
the committee. "We hope it will make a big impact on the community. We've 
all been working together."

Part of the new grant will go to create a full-time executive director's 
position for the residents' committee, while a large portion of the funds 
will be used to contract local agencies to work with the community through 
various programs, as well as pay for space at the South Sumter Resource 
Center on Manning Avenue.

One of the main goals of the committee is to use the grant to establish a 
community outreach position in which the person would work the streets of 
South Sumter.

"The person actually walks the streets and talks to people hanging out on 
the streets that presumably could be involved with drug using or dealing," 
Brown said.

Focusing on at-risk children, the person in the new position would then try 
to get residents involved in some type of program like job- skills training.

"It actually takes someone face-to-face doing that and finding people," 
Brown said, to get people off the street and involved in something of 
interest that can have a positive influence.

About 10,500 people live in the South Sumter area, where, according to the 
grant proposal, the average household income is $13,231 and 40 percent of 
the children live in poverty.

About 16.4 percent of the predominantly black population is also unemployed.

Organizers have also recognized that to have the money to attack an issue 
is one thing, but to have people motivated to help the community is yet 
another.

So, on Thursday, the citizens' committee brought in Michael Walker, 
executive director of the Partnership for a Safer Cleveland, to speak with 
its members at the M.H. Newton Family Life Enrichment Center.

A former child gang member while living in the Cabrini-Green area of 
Chicago, a housing project on the south side of the city known for its 
violence, gangs, drugs and poverty.

The 46-year-old Walker said he was able to change his life because of the 
care and values instilled in him by his grandparents, as well as 
experiencing a horrible tragedy.

Recalling a story of watching a childhood friend being shot to death during 
a drive-by shooting, the Ohio State University alumnus and Rose Bowl 
participant told the crowd that since then he has dedicated his work to his 
friend's memory.

Now, he not only runs the Cleveland organization, but speaks with other 
groups around the country, trying to help them with their child outreach 
programs.

"What you're doing here is a lot of work, but it makes a difference," 
Walker said to the audience.

For Walker, the key to making a difference in the life of children starts 
with communication and respect.

"You can't build a foundation without first showing respect," Walker said. 
"Kids will show you a lot of things when you show them respect."

After being asked how local residents are to compete against rap artists 
who envelop themselves with an image of living in a high- rolling 
environment of money, drugs and sex, Walker said, "You've got to give them 
examples of how money doesn't matter and you can have a good time."

A family member can have far more influence than a rapper, Walker said, 
especially when they take the time to talk with the children.

"It's what you see every day that really matters."
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MAP posted-by: Beth