Justice Desserts

Fair focuses on police-community relationship

By SEAN BARRON

VINDICATOR CORRESPONDENT

YOUNGSTOWN — One effective way to place a dent in crime is to bridge gaps between members of a community and law enforcement.

That was the main thrust behind Saturday’s third annual Criminal Justice Fair at Heart Reach Ministries, 211 Redondo Road, on the city’s North Side.

Several city police officers and other law-enforcement personnel were on hand to talk and provide information to the estimated 200 attendees of the six-hour event.

The fair, sponsored by Heart Reach and Youngstown Northside Weed & Seed, also featured representatives of the Martin P. Joyce Juvenile Justice Center, as well as a variety of county agencies. Those included the Youngstown Police Athletic League, YouthBuild Mahoning County, the Youngstown Office on Minority Health, Unison Health Plan, HandsOn Volunteer Network of the Valley and the Alliance for Congregational Transformation Influencing our Neighborhoods (ACTION).

Another primary emphasis was on good health and giving people information about taking care of themselves and their children, which is the main purpose of Unison, noted Michalene Hughley, the agency’s outreach representative.

Unison’s services include transportation to doctor’s appointments, occupational and physical therapy, dental and optical care, behavioral health and a hot line that operates 24 hours a day, seven days a week for those with questions or problems related to their care, Hughley explained.

The services are free to those either eligible through the Mahoning County Department of Job and Family Services or on federal Supplemental Security Income, she said.

“We work with people to take better care of themselves,” Hughley pointed out. “We try to work on people not just going in the emergency room, but to their doctor’s office.”

Getting the word out about good physical, mental and emotional well-being also is key for the two-year-old Youngstown Office on Minority Health, noted Felicia M. Alexander, director.

“We try to get people away from treatment and toward preventive choices,” Alexander explained.

The agency works in conjunction with the Youngstown City Health Department in an effort to eliminate health disparities in the Mahoning Valley.

Plans are to start planting community gardens this spring on vacant city parcels, Alexander added. Such a move not only will make more-healthful foods available to people but allow them to form partnerships with various businesses, Alexander said, adding that other ideas include reducing salt and sodium intake, baking instead of frying, and physical activity such as walking outdoors or in place daily.

Also available were pamphlets on domestic-violence prevention, the effects of drugs on pregnancies, the H1N1-flu virus, ways to deal with stress, Internet dating, cyberspace safety for teens, mammograms, fire safety and neighborhood watches.

The event has its tasty side, too, with six participants taking part in a five-minute, doughnut-eating contest.

Three contestants each represented the community and law enforcement, and each of the six was given a dozen doughnuts.

Taking home a first-place plaque was Patrick Campbell, a juvenile-justice-center probation officer, for eating 10; second-place honors went to Robert Griffin, a member of YouthBuild, who finished off nine.

The event also had a panel that discussed, among other things, community involvement against crime, as well as how the Jan. 23 shooting death of 80-year-old Angelina Fimognari at St. Dominic Church on the South Side has outraged but united many to be more proactive in fighting crime, such as by forming block watches.

It is hoped that youngsters will take from the fair positive feelings toward law enforcement and be steered from crime, and that adults received added information on ways to handle a negative situation that may arise in their homes or neighborhoods, noted Terri L. Bryant, an event coordinator.

“Be active in your safety,” she advised.