Published: May 16, 2008 10:37 pm            

Annual forum focuses on delinquency prevention

BEREA — Community organizations shared what resources they offer to help youths Friday during Madison County Delinquency Prevention Council’s second annual forum at Berea Baptist Church.

One common theme among the participants was the importance of providing teens and younger children with opportunities.

“I came across the philosophy that, as long as you keep your kids busy, they don’t have time to get in trouble,” said Regina Martin of the Madison United Soccer Association (MUSA). “My kids are 16 and 19 and we haven’t gotten into any trouble yet. As a parent, I think my kids being involved in activities really helped with that.”

MUSA serves about 1,000 kids every season throughout the county.

“Over the years, I’ve seen what (soccer) can do for kids, especially for kids who do not have the opportunities that my kids have,” Martin said. “It’s so important for kids to be able to get out, have fun, have fitness and love playing a game.”

Kim Quinlan, youth services center director at Clark-Moores Middle School, said teens especially need more options about how they can spend their time constructively.

“Once children get into middle and really once they turn 12, there is nothing after school for them,” she said. “For day cares, they are too old. There’s nothing for them to do but hang out in the streets.”

“It was really great when we had the Boys and Girls Club,” Quinlan said. “It was a wonderful asset for our kids after school.”

After detailing the youth-targeted program that Telford Community YMCA has recently added, Kevin Hurt, executive director, was asked about the possibility of a YMCA opening in Berea in the future.

“Unfortunately, buildings cost a lot of money,” he said. “We’ve been talking to a few people in the Berea community who are interested. We’re interested. If we can determine that there is a need and if there is enough interest both in the government as well as private entities to make it happen, we can make it happen.”

When looking for activities for children, Lloyd Jordison of the Madison County Community Partnership’s Faith Task Force, reminded attendees to “don’t forget about the faith community.”

“I believe there is over 170 churches in Madison County alone,” he said. “Geographically, they are spread throughout and are in each individual community. Wherever there is people congregating there are churches.”

“Besides the spiritual aspect of it, some of the power of (the Faith Task Force) is connecting youth with loving and caring adults,” Jordison said. “That’s what it is about.”

Other forum participants included representatives from Cub Scouts, Girl Scouts, Comprehensive Care, Berea Parks and Recreation, Eastern Kentucky University, the Richmond Gold Glove program and the Madison County Alternative School.

Berea College graduate Hasan Davis, who after an early history of social and academic challenges, including learning disabilities, pre-teen arrest and expulsion from alternative school and college, was able to overcome his challenges, was the guest speaker for the forum.

He currently serves as the chairman of the Juvenile Justice Advisory Board of Kentucky.

“I’ve been stabbed,” Davis said to forum participants. “I’ve been run over. I’ve been beat down. I’ve been put out of every institution that I’ve ever attended. But, I’m here. I’m here because of people like you who chose to make my life their mission and who chose to see what could be instead of what was.”

“If we continue to believe that tomorrow something could be different, we can always walk into these children’s lives with hope in our heart,” he said. “It doesn’t cost anything.”



Bryan Marshall can be reached at bmarshall@richmondregister.com or 624-6691.

        

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