| crime prevention | 27 Mar 2009 |
| Who notices when crime is prevented? by Johanna Wharton | Comment (0) |
In 2008, Provident served almost 600 children in the 63115 and 63147 zip codes, one of the most violent crime ridden communities in the City of St. Louis and non of them were charged with a crime last year. The youth ages 6-21 years of age were involved in a wide range of neighborhood based programs that include: after school programs at the Shreve Neighborhood Center, Ashland Elementary, Herzog Elementary, a program for youth that dropped out of high school called Transitions to Work for Youth and a community development program call the Self-Reliant Communities Initiative.
An old woman was sitting outside the gates of the city, enjoying the warm sun and watching people pass by when a traveler stopped to address her. “I am thinking of moving to your city. What can you tell be about the people who live here?,” asked the traveler. “I will tell you,” said the woman, “but first you must tell me about the people from where you have come.” “Ach,” spat the traveler, “wretched, mean, untrustworthy, scoundrels, one and all. I could hardly wait to get away from them.” The woman smiled, thought to herself for a moment and said, “Well, my friend. I'm afraid you would find the people of this city to be exactly the same.” “Then thank you, old woman, I will move on.”
