Above the Influence

<br />I had the very distinct opportunity to be a facilitator through the <a href="http://www.mcyaf.com/">Maine Community Youth Assistance Foundation (MCYAF).</a> MCYAF was selected as one of three sites in Illinois and only eighteen nationwide to be part of the Above the Influence next advertising campaign.<br /><br /><div> </div><a href="http://www.abovetheinfluence.com/">Above the Influence</a>, is a compaign to help influence young people to remain drug free. According to it's website "It's a state of mind. It's about being yourself and not letting negative influence get to you."<br /><br /><div> </div>Just last week, I participated with another member of MCYAF to assist some very bright, energetic and influential young ladies all members of the Cheerleading squad from Maine South High School in Park Ridge. These young ladies gave up there early morning before school to participate. The goal to shape a message to help influence young people just like them to live a life Above the Influence.<br /><br /><div> </div>Now as a Police Officer of over 18 years it was an experience that I found to be both rewarding and enlightening. I have been working with youth for most of my law enforcement career. This group of very energetic and bright ladies came in with ideas that were both uplifting and eye catching.<br /><br />The Above the Influence campaign is part of the very thing that the MCYAF Organization is working to influence.<br /><br /><div> </div>MCYAF Coalition Mission, is to increase overall community capacity for advocacy, education, guidance and resources for families in order to promote alcohol free and drug free youth.<br /><br /><div> </div><br /><div> </div><strong>MCYAF Coalition Goals </strong><br /><ol><li>Reduce alcohol, tobacco and other drug use among Maine Township youth</li><li>Effect change in public policy</li><li>Establish and strengthen collaboration and capacity to address teen alcohol, tobacco and drug use</li></ol><br /><div>After completing this portion of the program two of the teens ad campaign brand slogans were selected and potentially could go to regional and ultimately to the national ad campaign, for the Above the Influence brand. Regardless of the outcome these bright young ladies crafted messages that would both inspire, direct and lead toward both themselves and their friends in leading a drug free life.</div><br /><div> </div><br /><div>I was proud to participate and stand willing and able to represent the my agency and my organization in any effort to reduce drug, gang and violence involvement across the nation.</div><br /><div> </div><br /><div> </div><br /><div> </div>

Above the Influence

I had the very distinct opportunity to be a facilitator through the Maine Community Youth Assistance Foundation (MCYAF). MCYAF was selected...

Read more »

August is Neighborhood Watch Month

A neighborhood watch is an organized group of citizens devoted to crime and vandalism prevention within a neighborhood. In the United States it builds on the concept of a town watch from Colonial America.<br /><br /><div> </div>A neighborhood watch may be organized as its own group or may simply be a function of a neighborhood association or other community association.<br /><br /><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjeZlZaeaBit9u6BUOoNYTe3uwmG7i3KkPaCm08XeEfuTT5mGJI2b8AvvT_EGgoJcNyD2vousosU-acvp7WaOdza2F2QvZCSy2hLoSzLBrlIVKWhx334MHO6zMRG6PIu1kgoTW2StCY6TD0/s1600/nhoodwatch.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; cssfloat: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="180" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjeZlZaeaBit9u6BUOoNYTe3uwmG7i3KkPaCm08XeEfuTT5mGJI2b8AvvT_EGgoJcNyD2vousosU-acvp7WaOdza2F2QvZCSy2hLoSzLBrlIVKWhx334MHO6zMRG6PIu1kgoTW2StCY6TD0/s200/nhoodwatch.jpg" /></a> </div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;">Neighborhood watches are not vigilante organizations. When suspecting criminal activities, members are encouraged to contact authorities and not to intervene.</div><br /><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"> </div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;">The current American system of neighborhood watches began developing in the late 1960s as a response to the rape and murder of Kitty Genovese in Queens, New York. People became outraged after reports that a dozen witnesses did nothing to save Genovese or to apprehend her killer. Some locals formed groups to watch over their neighborhoods and to look out for any suspicious activity in their areas. Shortly thereafter, the National Sheriffs' Association began a concerted effort in 1972 to revitalize the "watch group" effort nationwide.</div><br /><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"> </div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;">There are a variety of ways a community can develop and institute a neighborhood watch. This includes the use of their Citizens Police Academy. The Citizens Police Academy allows a law enforcement agency to develop relationships within their community of business members, residents and community leaders. Once these people have been trained they can intern be developed into Volunteers. The next evolution of this is the Volunteers in Policing program backed by the Department of Homeland Security.</div><br /><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"> </div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEidlVULQ8kPW4_2INWeHxj3OgoxqFiY3jlHhEho57F9DWDV0pn60_9jwBena-ADx85wqwGgskYUm1ehpjDVCLemVLC031cdxo5Romf9939SLxetMYTChptlU1fn0vWjpTo4D-aT3iy5111L/s1600/logo.gif" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; cssfloat: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEidlVULQ8kPW4_2INWeHxj3OgoxqFiY3jlHhEho57F9DWDV0pn60_9jwBena-ADx85wqwGgskYUm1ehpjDVCLemVLC031cdxo5Romf9939SLxetMYTChptlU1fn0vWjpTo4D-aT3iy5111L/s1600/logo.gif" /></a>The VIPS Program provides support and resources for agencies interested in developing or enhancing a volunteer program and for citizens who wish to volunteer their time and skills with a community law enforcement agency. The program’s ultimate goal is to enhance the capacity of state and local law enforcement to utilize volunteers.</div><br /><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"> </div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><br /></div>Through this program, the VIPS staff seeks to:<br /><ul><li>learn about promising practices being used in existing VIPS programs and share this information with law enforcement agencies that want to expand their programs, </li><li>increase the use of volunteers in existing programs, </li><li>help citizens learn about and become involved in VIPS programs in their communities, and</li><li>help agencies without volunteer programs get them started.</li></ul><br /><div>If you are looking to volunteer for a program or want to get involved go to this website and find a group in your area. http://www.policevolunteers.org/</div><br /><div>  </div>

August is Neighborhood Watch Month

A neighborhood watch is an organized group of citizens devoted to crime and vandalism prevention within a neighborhood. In the United States...

Read more »