Saturday, March 15, 2014
By Joe Gorman
YOUNGSTOWN
Mayor John A. McNally urged those attending the Community Initiative to Reduce Violence breakfast Friday to believe in the city.
That belief, the mayor said, repeated everyday, is what is needed to spur people to make the city better and help crack down on violence.
McNally said the CIRV program helps instill belief by showing those who are potentially violent criminals that there are people who believe in them and will help keep them from a life of crime.
“We have to instill the word ‘belief’ in our vocabulary every single day,” McNally said. “If we do that, we’ll be a much better community.”
The CIRV offers a mixture of aggressive policing and social-service programs aimed at people who have been in trouble in the past to steer them out of trouble in the future. It was started by former police Chief Rod Foley, who used statistics compiled by the department to target high-crime areas and also people who have records associated with violence and other crimes.
Guy Burney, who runs CIRV for the city, said the program worked well in its first year, but more work is needed to keep up the momentum.
“It’s time we pull up our sleeves and get to work,” Burney said.
Burney said a lot of violence comes from fear. He said people who are afraid of everyday things will be driven to commit violence out of fear because fear makes people act out of their character.
The job of the CIRV program is to stop people from being afraid so that the community can be safer, Burney said.
For this year, CIRV will be having sports programs for youths and also will sponsor a DC College Tour. Burney said he hopes there are sports available for youths in all areas of town.
Rallies and marches also will take place, and Burney said they will be in hot spots in the city because that is the only way to reach people who need help from CIRV.
Derrick Tillman was one of two men who work with CIRV who received proclamations from McNally for taking part. Tillman credited CIRV with keeping him out of trouble.
“Without that being here, I don’t think I would exist right now,” Tillman said.
City schools Superintendent Connie Hathorm said the program is crucial in helping not only students, but their parents. He said some of those in attendance have been critical of the district and the students in the past but they needed to come together for the good of the students.
“Stop talking negatively of our kids,” Hathorn said.
Police Chief Robin Lees asked those in attendance to help increase minority participation in the police department. He asked them if they could spread the word about careers in law enforcement. The department will be giving another entry-level exam in July and wants to attract more minorities to take the test, Lees said.
McNally said the CIRV program is making a change in the city because people are believing in themselves and others through the program.
“We are seeing that change take place,” he said.