By Anita Walker

The Fort Myers Housing Authority hosted a delegation to Orlando to participate in the 14^th Annual National Conference on Preventing Crime in the Black Community. Three resident youths also had a chance to take part in the conference as a result of their participation in the Crime Prevention Essay Contest held through the Resident Initiative office.

Antoinette Sanders, Evelyn Whitt and Charles Terrell Franklin had the opportunity to meet many statewide and national officials who work with public housing authority’s and communities around the country on developing grass root solutions to crime in predominately African American communities. They also heard first hand the results of hard working teens who have overcome the odds against them and are now giving back to their communities by becoming positive role models to their neighborhoods and volunteering their time to continue the effort to fight crime. Several urban leagues, police athletic leagues and other agencies brought their resident youths to discuss why their programs have been successful and to teach other participants how to make a difference.

Several sessions where developed for the teens to attend, they included: Keeping Our Schools Safe; Getting Kids Excited About Mathematics; Tell Your Story, Words, Music, Movement; Utilizing the Village concept as a Tool for Prevention in the New Millennium; Overcoming Victimization, Strategies for Survival; and Martin Had A Dream…Jesse Said Keep Hope Alive, What is your Response.

In addition to seminars the delegation participated in the Youth Anti-Crime Rally and Dance along with the Teen Summit on Non-violence. All of their hard work and attention did not go unnoticed. A special treat for the group was a trip to Wet ’N Wild to cool off and get outdoors.

We want to thank our residents who participated in the essay contest and for their attendance to the conference, you made us all proud.