Grant aims to improve future of W.S. kids

By Jessica Chetney and Chelsea Goodridge
BengalNews Reporters

            One of the most pressing issues in today’s society is the future of our nation’s children and what we can do to improve their chances of success.

             Kids and their families alike on the West Side will both be seeing changes that will have a positive effect on their futures.

Since securing a five-year $625,000 grant in September, the Buffalo State College Center of Health and Social Research along with many West Side organizations are setting the groundwork to benefit West Side families.

            “The West Side Youth Development Coalition was awarded the grant to reduce alcohol and drug abuse among youth (18 and younger) living on the West Side of Buffalo,” said Jonathan Lindner, Center of Health and Social Research (CHSR) analyst and coordinator of the grant and coalition. “Our project will employ an environmental approach and include focus on the development of new school and local government policies and youth-focused norms.”

            The “environmental approach” Lindner mentioned evolved from a previous grant that funded a program called Project Safe Neighborhoods.

            “The main mechanism of the approach is to focus on people who influence youth, such as parents and others who act in that role,” Lindner said.

            To do this, the coalition has established a set of goals to achieve success in their approach. The first goal is to change social norms by developing parent-specific messages. The coalition also plans to change the physical environment through the use of visual media, such as billboards to capture parental attention. Lastly, the coalition would like to see an enhancement in working alongside law enforcement.

            “We have a graffiti task force that goes out, looks for graffiti and tags it as gang related,” said Alan Delmerico, research analyst for the CHSR. “They make notes of that and they work with the block clubs and civic organizations to try and get rid of those tags and improve the look of the neighborhood while making it safe.”  

AUDIO: Alan Delmerico discusses Project Safe Neighborhood 
West Side Youth Development Coalition

             
            The West Side Youth Development Coalition (WSYDC) is composed of 190 members that are divided into 12 different sectors. These sectors range from community groups, law enforcement, and educational institutions to health services, and everywhere in between.

            “One of our major partners in this grant is the West Side Community Services organization,” Delmerico said. “They’re one of the most prominent community groups we’ve worked with.”

Darrell Barber, youth director, W.S. Community Services

           According to Lucy Candelario, executive director of West Side Community Services, the grant will help fund some of the programs in the organization. Some of these programs include Project Alert and Second Step, which welcome young children to adolescents aged six to 12 in efforts to keep them off the streets and influenced to stay in school. Academic tutoring, computer labs, open gyms and game rooms are also available for the children as well.

            Although the West Side Community Center is only one organization highlighted of the many within the coalition, Lindner explains that the WSYDC uses many tactics to spread the word and get residents involved with all the coalition’s organizations.

            “We recruit and advertise in several ways which include, our website, Facebook, Twitter, and other printed media,” Lindner said. “We also use word-of-mouth, which helps out tremendously in getting our message out.”

            Since the grant is projected to last five years, the WSYDC plans to secure continued funding by applying for additional grants and public donations.

            “We would like to have programs and policies in place during the first five years that ensures sustainability long after the money runs out,” Lindner said. Edited by Max Borsuk