The Providence Housing Authority (PHA) recently held an awards ceremony to recognize a group of 12 teens from the Hartford Park development, as well as 10 police officers who patrol the neighborhood, for their completion of the three-week Youth and Police Initiative program.
The program is run by the North American Family Institute, a Massachusetts-based organization (NAFI) whose mission is to reduce crime in neighborhoods. Training included discussions, team-building exercises and reality-based scenario trainings.
“By all accounts this program appears to be a phenomenal success,” said Stephen O’Rourke, executive director of PHA. “Simple communication and shared experience can be a great bridge in helping diffuse confrontations between police and youth and reducing crime in our neighborhoods. … There’s already talk about extending this program to Manton Heights and Chad Brown,” he said.
The ceremony was attended by local officials, including Mayor David N. Cicilline and NAFI President Yitzhak Bakal. •
