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Date: 10/3/2023
SPRINGFIELD — Through a collaboration with local community centers, a new youth outreach initiative has begun, with a focus on serving teens.
On Sept. 25, Mayor Domenic Sarno, City Councilor Lavar Click-Bruce and Police Superintendent Cheryl Clapprood joined with representatives and officials from local centers and organizations to announce the initiative.
The announcement came out of Sarno’s previous community roundtable meetings with stakeholders and partners to address the increase in violence in hotspot areas — especially gun violence — along with enhancing youth outreach efforts.
Sarno and Click-Bruce, who also serves as the City Council’s Public Safety Committee Chair, met with representatives from local community centers on Sept. 21 to finalize the plan of action to launch the initiative. The meeting consisted of South End Community Center Executive Director Wes Jackson, Springfield Boys and Girls Club Executive Director Vinny Borello, Boys and Girls Family Center Executive Director Keshawn Dodds and officials from New North Citizens Council Youth Services Center.
Other partner community centers and organizations include the Springfield Boys and Girls Club, Martin Luther King, Jr. Family Services, Boys and Girls Club Family Center, Downtown Springfield YMCA, South End Community Center, Square One, New North Citizens Council Youth Services Center, North End Youth Center, Roca Inc. and Families Against Violence.
Click-Bruce explained that the initiative is a collaboration with these different organizations. Through this, the organizations can offer a free week’s pass to one of Springfield’s community centers.
Click-Bruce said the goal is to get the passes in the hands of police officers, barbers, the schools and in other public places, so that teens can easily access and enjoy the passes.
He went on to say that this is an opportunity for people that look like him. Growing up in Mason Square, Click-Bruce said he had opportunities because his parents brought him to the Dunbar Community Center to “keep him on a straight and narrow.” Nowadays, he said parents are not doing that.
“[We] wanted to make sure to address teens because they’re out there running rampant,” Click-Bruce said. He also noted that the uptick in gun violence is not just being experienced in Springfield, but across the world.
With access to these free passes, teens can utilize the centers for homework and other schoolwork, as well as an opportunity for employment.
Once a teen comes in the door, Click-Bruce said they can be led in any direction, whether that be toward getting a job, going to college, or being provided with a support system.
As a city councilor, Click-Bruce shared that it is important to provide these opportunities. “It’s up to us to have the resources we have,” he said.
“I can’t just do nothing [so I] decided to do something,” he added. No matter what it takes, he said he is willing to try.
“I think this is refreshing for the city of Springfield [and it] shows some light at the end of the tunnel,” Click-Bruce said.
The passes will be tested out and if all goes well, he said it will hopefully become an ongoing initiative.
In the coming weeks, Click-Bruce shared that there will be other initiatives coming out on which he has also been working.