The Better Family Life, Inc. 2010 Family Week will begin Monday, August 9 and continue through August 14. This year the annual week of events will be held in honor of Tyrone Thompson, former Pagedale police chief, who was shot and killed during an attempted robbery on June 5.
This violent act is exactly what Better Family Life’s Peace on the Streets campaign targets. This year the campaign is being promoted more fervently than ever before.
“We are really ramping up our efforts because of violence,” said Val Joyner, Business Services and Community Relations manager for Better Family Life.
To crack down on violence, Better Family Life has held several town hall meetings to get the community more active in the fight against street crime. It has created partnerships with the St. Louis Metropolitan Clergy Coalition, 100 Black Men of Metropolitan St. Louis, Families Advocating Safe Streets and the Father’s Support Center to have 12 high-crime neighborhoods, as defined by the St. Louis Metropolitan Police Department, patrolled. Currently Penrose and Wells-Goodfellow are being patrolled and plans are being made for the remaining 10 high-crime neighborhoods.
“We have always challenged St. Louis to be peaceful during Family Week,” said James Clark, vice president of Community Outreach for Better Family Life. “We think it takes much greater meaning because of all the violence that has gripped the streets of St. Louis this summer.”
Amnesty for misdemeanors
Better Family Life’s first family celebration was a one-day event held 27 years ago. Since then, the event has grown to a weeklong set of events that continues to grow each year.
Last year, a traffic ticket amnesty component was added, which aided over 12,000 people to get pardons for outstanding traffic warrants. The amnesty program returns this year at the August 14 Peacefest and includes not only traffic warrants, but all active minor misdemeanors.
“Last year we had 32 municipalities participate. This year we are inviting all 91 St. Louis City and County municipalities,” Clark said.
New this year is a health component. On August 9 a Grace Hill Mobile Unit will be be out taking cholesterol and blood pressure readings for free. During the August 14 festivities, BJC Healthcare and Myrtle Hilliard Davis Comprehensive Health Centers will offer general health screenings. Gateway Foundation will give free dental checkups.
The official launch event for Family Week is August 5 with a press conference in the City Hall Rotunda, where community leaders will be honored and the week’s activities will be outlined.
“We are targeting the entire metropolitan area, because in the broader scheme of things we are all family. We are all tied together,” Clark said.
St. Louis rap star Nelly will receive a key to the city.
On Monday August 9 from 3 to 10 p.m. the Art and Soul Café will be held at the World’s Fair Pavilion in Forest Park. The evening consists of local artwork, jazz , R&B and spoken word.
The following day, Fashion Show for the Cause, featuring local models and fashion designers, will be held at the Loft Jazz Club beginning at 6 p.m. The proceeds from this event will go toward Better Family Life’s Peace on the Streets campaign.
On Thursday, August 12 the St. Louis Select Singles Social/Movers and Shakers Networking Event will be held at the Renaissance St. Louis Hotel Airport from 6 p.m. to midnight.
Family Week comes to a close Saturday, August 14 with the daylong Peacefest celebration at Ivory Perry Park beginning at 10 a.m. The event will feature local musical artists, a children’s zone, the Who’s Who in Black St. Louis Celebrity Softball Game, over 100 vendors and the St. Louis Metro Car Show, along with the health screenings and the Amnesty Project.
Clark said, “We are looking forward to Family Week becoming a regional and ultimately a national event hosted right here in St. Louis.”
If you want to be a vendor for an event or would like more information, call Better Family Life at (314) 746- 0824 or visit www.betterfamilylife.org.