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Join
Sheriff Baca - the youth in the community, leaders of tomorrow,
need you
Dec. 17th
My
name is Elder Charles Price, and I am a man of God who love the
youth in our city. I do not use the word "LOVE" loosely, but I let
action speak for it self. I am a clergy for the Southwest and Wilshire
Police department.
In the months of October, November, and December our community has
seen unprecedented Youth Violence. We have reached the highest murder
rate in the Los Angeles County history. What can we do to "Stop
the Violence" that has become a part of our daily lives?
As a start, I have been working with the Los Angeles County Sheriff's
Department, Clergy Council, and Bishop Edward R. Turner, on a "United
We Stand" Multi-Faith Prayer Breakfast and Community Day
on January 18th, 2003 from 9:00 am to 3: 00 pm.
The goal of the "Multi-Faith Prayer Breakfast and Community
Day" is to strengthen and unite all people regardless of
race, color, creed, age, or religion. As part of the Youth Empowerment
Program and Community Resources Program, we are inviting our Youth
(Gang members or not) and the Law Enforcement community (Police
Department, Sheriff Department, Office of The City Attorney, and
any other) to participate in a "Dialogue of Change".
There has to be a relationship of trust between Law Enforcement
of today and the men and women ("Youth of Today") of tomorrow. Once
we build a relationship of trust, people will feel comfortable,
and be more willing to come forward with information to the police.
Since I am heading up this Dialogue of Committee, I like for people
to know what I'm fighting for and what I see. This "Dialogue of
Change" with the "Youth and Law Enforcer (Police Department and
Sheriff Department) is only a beginning in the right direction.
Understand this! one meeting is not going to set everything right
for the "Youth (Gang Members/or Not) and Law Enforce). But! it's
the start of bringing every one to the table, their "will be" more
of this type of meetings.
A 1991 (this is 2002, so what I'm stating is an understatement)
federal study showed that 1.6 million children ages 14 and younger
were coming home to no adult supervision after school. A youth have
less adult supervision in their lives than ever before. Without
caring individuals to provide support, counsel, and role modeling
our youth of today are vulnerable to the destructive forces of poverty,
drugs, and violence. We need to come together and fight what our
youth are going through:
School failure: California is the 43 worst state in the number
of youth who are neither attending school nor working. In 1993 the
school dropout rate of teenagers was 15.3%. Of those youth who finish
high school, less than 1/3 are prepared for college.
Teen pregnancy: California's rate of teen pregnancy id 21%
higher than the national average, ranking it as the 42nd worst state
in the nation. Almost 12% of all births in California are teen mothers.
Gangs and violence: California is the 46th worst state in
the nation in the number of juveniles arrested for violent crime.
There are between 175,000 and 2000,000 criminal street gang members
in California including 55,000 in Los Angeles County alone.
Every young person in our community (and other communities) has
potential. Kids deserve the opportunity to pursue their dreams.
Today, more then ever, changes in our society pose problems for
kids that may seem insurmountable. With the erosion of neighborhood,
community and family support networks, at risk children often fail
academically, become involved in crime, drugs, sex or violence.
We as mentor / caring people / ministries / pastors / police officers
/ sheriff's can make a difference. We can help kids discover their
self worth, their talents, their dreams.
Children need positive role models. They need a resource,
a confidant, a friend, someone to help them make positive choices
in life, someone to help them think about consequences before they
act. They need someone who will listen. They need a mentor. God
is going to hold us the people and the church, accountable for our
lack united work in the community. The youth in the community, they
are the leaders of tomorrow, they need you, Bishop / Elder / Pastor
/ Priest / Business Owner / Police Officers / Sheriff's / Honest
Caring People!
This is who I am and what I am.
For more information on the Sheriff Baca Community Day 2003 and
it's Multi-Faith Prayer Breakfast, please call (323) 753-4673 or
visit www.clergycouncil.org.
Take care, on visiting, you'll get hooked on helping your and other
communities.
You can also contact me at Charles-Price@attbi.com.
Elder Charles Price
Southwest, Wilshire
Lord Jesus, let Your Anointing fall on this reader this day.
Let the Oil of your Spirit purify them now.
Take them now Lord and make them Yours.
Take Them Now Lord, Take Them Now With Your Anointing.
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