New Hanover County Blue Ribbon Commission On the Prevention of Youth Violence

New Hanover County Blue Ribbon Commission On the Prevention of Youth Violence

Youth Violence Death Gangs Graffiti Drugs School Suspensions School Drop Outs

The Blue Ribbon Commission (BRC) A collaboration formed in 2008 Elected officials, educators, businesses & community leaders Provide leadership and focus Research, Prevention, Intervention and Enforcement

BRC Organizational Structure Executive Leadership Director Technical Advisory Committee YEZ Specialist Youth Violence Action Team Education Action Team Community Engagement Action Team Portia Hines Park Project

Youth Enrichment Zone Modeled after Harlem Children s Zone Focusing coordinated services in education, poverty and youth violence From cradle to college to community Development of violence prevention programs/activities

Youth Enrichment Zone Changing our community one neighborhood at a time Population 1,599 Per capita income $12,295 70% single parent households 55% live in poverty 55% high school drop outs

Youth Enrichment Zone Elementary YEZ Collected Middle YEZ Collected High School YEZ Collected Snipes 112 26 23% Williston 31 19 61.29% New Hanover 76 33 43.42% Gregory 31 3 9.6% Holly Shelter 26 16 61.53% Hoggard 6 2 33.33% Freeman 13 2 15% Trask 13 6 46.15% Laney 2 0 0% Sunset Park 7 0 0% Myrtle Grove 3 2 66.66% Mosley 3 1 33.33% Wrightsboro 5 0 0% Noble 2 0 0% Issac Bear 2 0 0% Pine Valley 4 0 0% Roland Grise 1 0 0% WECHS 2 0 0% Forest Hills 3 0 0% Lakeside 1 0 0% Winter Park 3 0 0% Lake Forest 2 0 0% Total 180 31 17.22% Total 76 43 56.57% Total 92 36 39.13%

Youth Enrichment Zone 2011 Referrals 49 requests for 2 or more needs 26 referrals to at least 2 service providers 33 referrals for mentoring and tutoring 30+ children received book bags and school supplies 8 families received assistance during the Christmas holidays 7 referrals for employment/ged 7 referrals for after school programs 5 referrals for school support/conference 5 referrals for food for Thanksgiving 3 referrals for legal service 3 referrals for mental health services 2 referrals for band equipment 1 housing referral

Technical Advisory Committee Over 35 community organizations Provides recommendations, programs, research, prevention intervention, or enforcement of youth violence Meets quarterly for information sharing and input Many members serve on action teams

Education Action Team Co-Leaders: Superintendent, Dr. Tim Markley and Nick Rhodes Increase graduation rate to 80% by 2012 in the YEZ Graduation rate 55% in 2008; 65% in 2009; 73% in 2010 Established CFCC Scholarship, $12,500 Adopted YEZ schools

Youth Violence Action Team Co-Leaders: DA Ben David/Frankie Roberts Reduce youth defendants & school suspensions in the YEZ 25%, by 2012 Summer enrichment programs Focused Deterrence (formerly GRIT) Boots on the Ground (WPD/Min) Renovation of Portia Hines Park

Community Engagement Action Team Co-Leaders; Pastor Robert Campbell/Meg Davenport Recruit 4,000 volunteers by 2012; 700 currently 15/30 second radio and TV commercials Electronic billboards, www.brcyez.org/facebook The Benefit Bank BRC Speaker s Bureau

Key Collaborations & Partnerships United Way of the Cape Fear Area New Hanover County Schools/Board of Education City of Wilmington New Hanover County PPD Corning Cape Fear Workforce Development Board Wilmington Leadership Foundation/Outside the Walls Cape Fear Volunteer Center DREAMS Center for Arts Education Cape Fear Community College LINC Junior League of Wilmington New Hanover County Council of PTAs New Hanover County Community Action Community Boys & Girls Club UNCW

Funds Leveraged $150,000 Z Smith Reynolds $75,000 PPD $40,000 City of Wilmington $15,000 New Hanover County $21,000 NHC Schools $10,00 WHA & District Attorney s Office $10,000 - Dreams

Current High Priority Volunteer Opportunities Mentor a child in the YEZ Volunteer as a YEZ Family Resource Connector Volunteer as a BRC/YEZ Office Assistant Volunteer at a YEZ partner agency located in the YEZ Volunteer on the Portia M. Hines Park Planning Committee

Other Ways You Can Help Host a BRC speaker at your organization Volunteer with the BRC, community organizations and/or schools Recruit 10% (or more) of your employees or colleagues to volunteer on a project

Contact Tufanna Thomas Strategic Director BlueRibbonCommissionDirector@yahoo.com 910-399-4512 1-800-volunteer Or log on to: www.1800volunteer.org

Questions?