By Jacob Becker and Edward Mazzu
BengalNews Reporters
The 17th Annual Youth Police Academy was held at Buffalo Police Headquarters on Saturday, March 24. The event hosted nearly 70 middle school students, many from the West Side, who had the opportunity to learn about making healthy choices and the dangers associated with drugs and crime.
The Youth Police Academy was established at West Side Community Services when members of the Citizens Advisory Group to the Police Commissioner made the decision to try and reach middle school students and create positive interactions with local law enforcement.
“We started out with just a few young kids and progressively have grown to where we are today,” said Danette Porto, human service coordinator at West Side Community Services and senior member of the citizens advisory group who developed the idea for the Youth Police Academy. “I am happy every year to do this. It’s a part of me now.”
Youth Police Academy event at Buffalo Police Headquarters that featured an assortment of activities and training designed to help kids make better choices for their future:
The day started with a presentation by Detective Daniel Redmond of the Buffalo Police Department. Redmond, who is also a member of the Drug Enforcement Agency Task Force, spoke to the kids about the dangers associated with drugs and the consequences that accompany a life of crime.
“For people in the [West Side] neighborhood, if you are trying to raise your kids and your kid can’t ride a bike because there are 10 guys selling drugs out of the house next door, the neighborhood gets destroyed and nobody wants to live there,” said Redmond, who is in his second year with the Youth Police Academy. “It’s a huge problem, but people don’t want to talk about it.”
The Youth Police Academy serves as an introductory course for students interested in learning about law enforcement and grants kids first-hand experience about the duties of a police officer. Students who complete the program will receive a graduation certificate and credit for community service.
Past academy graduates, like Benjamin Gerald, 14, a freshman at Western New York Maritime Charter School, may then choose to become Police Explorer Scouts. The scouts are a drill team that competes with other departments nation-wide in basic law enforcement training, such as building searches.
“I came to the Youth Police Academy in 2009 and was really interested in joining,” said Benjamin, who is aspiring to be in the United States Marine Corps. “I really like to compete and this program helps me to develop the skills I will need in my future.”
Members of the Center for Health and Social Research at Buffalo State College were also invited to give a presentation about making healthy lifestyle choices. The Center’s “Got Health” initiative stressed the importance of diet and daily exercise while striving to be happy.
“It’s great every year to see these kids come in with their enthusiasm,” said Michele Graves, Community Coordinator for the Center for Health and Social Research. “We talked to them about college and how important it is to be healthy and stay away from crime.”
The Youth Police Academy has positively impacted the lives of many children, some of whom have gone on to be police officers. For the kids who were in attendance, the invaluable lessons learned are vital to the life decisions they will face in the future.
“Today I learned about drugs and to stay away from people who use them,” said Luis, an eighth grader at Hillery Park Academy. Edited by Michael Canfield
Sunday, April 15, 2012
Sunday, April 8, 2012
Jericho Road focuses on helping refugees
By Kristina Ferris and Megan Kreps
BengalNews Reporters
The growth of the Burmese population has significantly added to Buffalo’s diversity. Recently, the Burmese population is the fastest growing of all the refugee groups in the city and, many refugee organizations have been affected by the influx of new refugee population.
In the 2000 Census, the Burmese population was so small that it did not even have a ranking. By 2010, there were about 4,000 Burmese living in the Queen City and that number has only grown since. Refugee assistance programs have also had to accommodate the growing number.
At the Jericho Road Ministries drop in center, refugees receive help assimilating into society. Translators guide them through job hunting, medical care, and even legal advice:
Jericho Road Ministries is one refugee center that has had to adapt to the needs of the growing Burmese population. The organization has had to go out in the community to find translators to help the growing number of Burma refugees. Burma is just one of 15 refugee countries that Jericho Road Ministries represents, among 30 different languages. Past recipients of the organization have come back as volunteers to help translate the language and make the transition phase easier for refugees.
Jericho Road takes pride in that they do not operate as a donation center for refugees but rather a “parent-like” organization that provides skills to refugees in order to teach them how to go about daily living in America
Jericho Road Ministries began as a family practice started by Dr. Myron Glick in 1997 at 184 Barton Street. According to Eric Budin, director of partner development, Dr. Glick could be making significantly more money, but instead started his own practice to help better the community and refugees that have no place else to turn.
Since opening the family practice, the non-profit faith based organization has added the drop-in center located at 233 West Ferry. The drop-in center focuses on providing medical and legal assistance to refugees. It is open every Monday, Wednesday and Friday for open visits. During these appointments, families can come in and meet with health care providers for different medical issues, including vaccinations for themselves and their children.
Program Coordinator for the drop-in center, Krista Schwartzott, said that the most difficult refugees come to them with questions regarding medical information, and that explaining what medicine is used for what certain symptom.
Schwartzott went on to say that after being referred to the doctors, many refugees still do not understand how to properly take their prescriptions. Translators are on hand to explain what medicine to take and when to take it, and even quiz them on their understanding of the medications.
The center is the home of the Priscilla Project, which aides to pregnant women in receiving adequate prenatal care as well as helping after the birth of their baby. Anna Ireland, director of health and family services, described the hospitals these refugees are coming from are “death hospitals” where people only go when they are close to death.
The drop-in center also provides assistance to refugees looking for certain programs or institutes. The shuttle takes them to set up banks accounts, dentist appointments, clothing stores, or even job interviews. The volunteers help translate and correctly set up these
The work of Jericho Road Ministries is that of great importance to the refugees. Employees and volunteers of the foundation get value out of teaching people coming from refugee countries how to get along in their new home. Edited by Michael Tellier
BengalNews Reporters
The growth of the Burmese population has significantly added to Buffalo’s diversity. Recently, the Burmese population is the fastest growing of all the refugee groups in the city and, many refugee organizations have been affected by the influx of new refugee population.
In the 2000 Census, the Burmese population was so small that it did not even have a ranking. By 2010, there were about 4,000 Burmese living in the Queen City and that number has only grown since. Refugee assistance programs have also had to accommodate the growing number.
At the Jericho Road Ministries drop in center, refugees receive help assimilating into society. Translators guide them through job hunting, medical care, and even legal advice:
Jericho Road Ministries is one refugee center that has had to adapt to the needs of the growing Burmese population. The organization has had to go out in the community to find translators to help the growing number of Burma refugees. Burma is just one of 15 refugee countries that Jericho Road Ministries represents, among 30 different languages. Past recipients of the organization have come back as volunteers to help translate the language and make the transition phase easier for refugees.
Jericho Road takes pride in that they do not operate as a donation center for refugees but rather a “parent-like” organization that provides skills to refugees in order to teach them how to go about daily living in America
Jericho Road Ministries began as a family practice started by Dr. Myron Glick in 1997 at 184 Barton Street. According to Eric Budin, director of partner development, Dr. Glick could be making significantly more money, but instead started his own practice to help better the community and refugees that have no place else to turn.
Since opening the family practice, the non-profit faith based organization has added the drop-in center located at 233 West Ferry. The drop-in center focuses on providing medical and legal assistance to refugees. It is open every Monday, Wednesday and Friday for open visits. During these appointments, families can come in and meet with health care providers for different medical issues, including vaccinations for themselves and their children.
Program Coordinator for the drop-in center, Krista Schwartzott, said that the most difficult refugees come to them with questions regarding medical information, and that explaining what medicine is used for what certain symptom.
Schwartzott went on to say that after being referred to the doctors, many refugees still do not understand how to properly take their prescriptions. Translators are on hand to explain what medicine to take and when to take it, and even quiz them on their understanding of the medications.
The center is the home of the Priscilla Project, which aides to pregnant women in receiving adequate prenatal care as well as helping after the birth of their baby. Anna Ireland, director of health and family services, described the hospitals these refugees are coming from are “death hospitals” where people only go when they are close to death.
The drop-in center also provides assistance to refugees looking for certain programs or institutes. The shuttle takes them to set up banks accounts, dentist appointments, clothing stores, or even job interviews. The volunteers help translate and correctly set up these
The work of Jericho Road Ministries is that of great importance to the refugees. Employees and volunteers of the foundation get value out of teaching people coming from refugee countries how to get along in their new home. Edited by Michael Tellier
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)