Gangprevention.memo
April 13, 2011
TO:Human Relations Commission
FR:Carmen Atilano
Manager of Office of Human Rights and Community Relations
RE:Gang Prevention Scholarships
At its March 21, 2011 meeting, the HRCexpressed an interest in
th
meeting, the continuation of the $3000 for summer
considering at its April 18
activities for at-risk youth summer that it created in 2009. What proceeds is a
background of this effort:
To help prevent gang activity, the HRC reserved $3000 of its funds to assistParks
and Recreation Department withscholarship summer activities to low-income
youth.
Note: Summer day camp costs $150-300 per child for the summer, or $50-75 dollars
would purchase a 40-punch pass for a child to attend any program or activity in the
Recreation Centers.
There were questions about whether the punch passes are usually fully used,
whether the opportunity would be promoted bilingually, and whether the pilot
period should encompass the school year. There were concerns over the fact that
the relationship togang activity is not clearly articulated, the low age
requirements for the scholarships, the amount of the grant, and that the
scholarships might be curtailed due to the fact that school was already ending.
The HRC wished to fund something sustainable that would encourage the youth
into the following year. The HRC requested that Parks and Recreation work with
Community Mediation Services and the Boulder Police Department to identify at-
risk youth, and that they serve a minimum of 20 kids, ages 11-18.
In response to the HRC’s intention to provide gang prevention scholarships to the
Boulder Recreation Centers, the Division of Children, Youth and Families (CYF)
of the Department of Housing and Human Services identified 15 high school
students, 2 middle schoolstudents and 4 elementary school students who were
good candidates.
There were obstacles regarding internet access and ability to complete the
applications, and no scholarships hadyet been awardedas of July 2009. CYF
discovered that students were more interested in joining sports leagues, rather
than use Parks and Recreation programs. CommissionerDings moved that the
HRC move$1000 of the allocated fundsto summer league and summer camp, in
that order of preference, at the discretion of Parks and Recreation staff. The HRC
discussed the initial mission of gang prevention/intervention, and the logistics of
determining which private leagues were appropriate. The motion was not passed.
In November 2009, Kathryn Coleman with CYF spoke on the process for gang
prevention funding. Four families received Parks and Recreation passesand were
pleased with them. There were problems with the application process –the Parks
and Recreation application was daunting for some families. Also, for families
with younger kids, punch cards were logistically difficult, as parents needed to
accompany the child, or a sibling also wanted to attend. High school children
were more interested in spending time with friends or participating in an activity
their friends could attend. Last, most requests for funding were for soccer, which
is not offered through Parks and Recreation. The HRC asked about the interest in
soccer and other obstacles to the program.
In the summer 2010, Commissioner Conners Bauer spoke regarding the fact that
it was too late in the summer to try to use the remaining funds for recreational
activitiesfor at risk youth. She proposed an expression project at Boulder High
Schoolin partnership with Community Mediation Services.This would be to
give youth an opportunity to express what it’s like for them to live in the City of
Boulder and what factors impact them in terms of gang involvement. The results
of the project could be published and the participating students would receive gift
cards. The remaining funds ($2,800) were re-allocated to fund a creative
expression project.
Because of numerous threats against students at BHS, the creative expression
project has not been launched. Efforts have focused on engaging students and
community members on critical issues related to creating a safe and respectful
school environment.