43
One Step to Life to show public its family services
By Sean Barron
YOUNGSTOWN
The public is invited to a daylong community open house set to begin at 9 a.m. Wednesday to celebrate the grand opening of One Step to Life Inc.’s new office and programming site, 3610 Southern Blvd.
The gathering also will include a reception from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. for officials and the media.
One Step has grown during the past few years and has served hundreds of Mahoning Valley residents in numerous ways, noted Glen Williams, director.
OSTL is dedicated to eliminating youth-on-youth and family violence, drug use and other crimes while meeting the needs of youngsters and their families, mainly in the inner city, its mission statement says.
In addition, the organization’s work with the Ohio Benefit Bank has helped bring hundreds of thousands of dollars to the Valley through tax returns and credits, work-support efforts and other means, Williams said.
OSTL’s youth programs in schools aim to increase youngsters’ self-esteem and reduce violence, he continued.
One Step also offers a re-entry program for men and women who have left prison.
The support system, which also works to reduce criminal recidivism rates, has helped more than 150 people acclimate to being returned to society, Williams noted.