Partnership with SLPS and police aims to improve public safety
Special to The American
The Urban League of Metropolitan St. Louis recently hosted multiple Youth Gang Summits at Sumner, Beaumont, Vashon and Roosevelt high schools in the St. Louis Public School District. Nearly 2,000 students attended the summits.
More than 70 community leaders and dignitaries came out to speak with the youth to help them make positive life goals and put their lives on track. Positive role models who came out to make a difference include St. Louis Public Schools Superintendent Kelvin Adams, Tom Bailey of the Missouri Black Expo, Dr. John Williams, NFL star Brandon Williams, Michael Yarbrough of the St. Louis Rams, former Missouri Supreme Court Judge Ronnie White, Jacque Land of the Platinum Group, Malik Ahmed of Better Family Life, Inc. and Robin Boyce of the St. Louis Comptroller’s Office.
The St. Louis City Youth Gang Summits were sponsored by the Public Safety Advisory Council of the Urban League of Metropolitan St. Louis, in cooperation with St. Louis Public Schools and the St. Louis Metropolitan Police Department.
In May, the Public Safety Council will host Youth Gang Summits in the following St. Louis County high schools: Eskridge, McCluer South-Berkeley, Riverview Gardens, Jennings and Normandy.
The Public Safety Advisory Council was established in 2009 to provide an open forum to foster positive community relations between the law enforcement community and residents of the St. Louis metropolitan area to further the cause of public safety.
While African Americans comprise only 13 percent of the general population of the United States, 76 percent of the populations in prison are African Americans.
By continuing to host Youth Gang Summits, the Urban League Public Safety Advisory Council aims to reduce the incidence of crime in the St. Louis area by introducing students to community leaders, engaging them in positive and productive goals, and diverting their attention from gang activity.
For more information about the Public Safety Advisory Council of Metropolitan St. Louis, contact Angelia D. Bills at (314) 615-3604.