Aug. 8, 2007 — St. Croix celebrated the 20th annual Night Out Against Crime, Violence and Drugs Tuesday with fun activities and safety information for teens. The event was sponsored by the St. Croix Unity Coalition.
The Island Center for Performing Arts was transformed into a mecca for young people as they raced from display to display gathering prevention material on a variety of subjects explaining the dangers of cigarette and marijuana smoking, abstinence, sexual disease prevention and pamphlets decrying the use of guns, violence and bullying. The youth carried notes in their hands printed with the various prevention subjects available and if they visited each booth and received information they were rewarded with pens, school supplies, frisbees, carryalls and other gifts.
A trio of boys, sporting matching Night Out T-shirts held tightly to their gift bags scanning the crowds making sure no free gift escaped their notice. Myles Ventura and Jareem Tutien, both 12, and 13-year-old Ricky Lewis said they learned about staying safe and away from drugs and alcohol from various programs and speakers who came to their schools.
"It's important to stay away from cigarettes and other drugs," Ricky said, while his friends nodded in agreement.
National Night Out is in its 24th year of observance in most states. Sponsored by the National Association of Town Watch the program is designed to heighten crime and drug prevention awareness, strengthen community police partnerships, create healthy neighborhoods and send a message to criminals, letting them know that neighborhoods are organized and fighting back.
Tuesday's activities began with a march from Wendy's Restaurant in Sunny Isles to Island Center where a rally was held featuring several special guests including the JJDP Jammers, a popular youth band from St. Thomas. Local radio personality, Rashidi Clenence, was the master of ceremonies, and did a good job keeping the several hundred youth in attendance excited and informed about making healthy and safe choices.
“Many of us have lost a loved one, or know someone who has lost someone,”Clenence said to the crowd. “We really have to take our community back.” That statement seemed to hit home judging from the attentiveness of most of the young people,. Clenance continued to tell the young people to think before they act because their actions have long lasting affects.
Patrick Providence, a 29-year-old entrepreneur and owner of Fun Zone was the guest speaker. He told the audience that their negative behaviors cause a “domino effect” with their family, friends and community. He said a small mistake that could result in a criminal record could prevent someone from renting an apartment getting a job or even buying a vehicle later in life because the application process usually asks for a criminal record check. “Take the right route,” Providence told the crowd. “Solve your problems the right way."
The local Night Out activities began Sunday with a fun day at the Vincent Mason Pool in Frederiksted. On Aug. 18, three stalwart prevention activists, Denise Lewis, Glenda Mathurin-Lee and Annette Williams-Lee will be honored at a ceremony at Rotary West.
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