NUTURING COMMUNITIES
The SAW Coalition is a member of a newly formed grassroots initiative called “Nurturing Neighborhood Network” with the City of Waynesboro. This Network is comprised of local churches, youth serving organizations, food pantries, and social service organizations. The Network’s goal is to work to revitalize a high crime and drug neighborhood within the City of Waynesboro. This group has so far initiated a community clean-up day, a community garden, the donation of playground equipment, and a bed bug infestation clean-up. Park Station Villas
The Nurturing Neighborhood Network conducted a community street party called “It’s On & Poppin” in June 2011. This was a free family event that included a resource fair for neighborhood residents. The event included food, entertainment, games, etc. The event was designed to serve the community by bringing community resources directly to area residents as well as begin to build trust between residents and area churches, community organizations, and law enforcement.
The Nurturing Neighborhood Network is also developing an on-site resource center within this high-crime neighborhood. An apartment has been donated as a gathering place for community events, community organizational meetings, and as a location for offering on-site resources to community residents. The SAW Coalition gang prevention coordinator has regular “office hours” at the resource center each week.
SPOKES
S.P.O.K.E.S. stands for Supervised Program Offering Kids Effective Skills. SPOKES is designed to give opportunities to at-risk youth to learn skills, give back to their community, feel valued, and work with an adult mentor. S.P.O.K.E.S refurbishes abandoned bicycles and then gives them away to needy children or others in the community.
S.P.O.K.E.S is housed at the Waynesboro Boys and Girls Club. Youth in this program work with OOY staff, Boys and Girls Club staff, and community volunteers to learn bicycle repair and other needed life skills.
The S.P.O.K.E.S. program works in conjunction with the Waynesboro Boys and Girls Club to offer program to teens after school three days a week.
For more information on the S.P.O.K.E.S. program and teen programming at the Boys and Girls Club contact the Central Shenandoah Valley Office on Youth at 540-942-6757 or 540-332-3806.
Click here to read a PSA on S.P.O.K.E.S.
Click here to read the NBC29 news article on the collaboration of the S.P.O.K.E.S program and Middle River Regional Jail.
GRAFFITI BUSTERS
A Youth Outreach Worker is employed part-time to conduct a community graffiti removal program utilizing at-risk youth, youth in need of fulfilling court-ordered community service, and inmates from the local jail.
ALL GIRLS CONFERENCE
The SAW Coalition supported the work of Makeba Robinson and the Staunton Recreation and Parks Department to conduct the “All-Girls Conference” in April 2011. The All-Girls Conference is a one-day free conference held in a disadvantaged community that provides an array of activities and services to girls on everything from how to dress for an interview to nutritional information. Sixty-five girls attended.