April 2009

Issue 10

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C O A L I T I O N M E M B E R S

Audrey Allen

Paul Bailey

Tyrone Benson

Alexzina Bryant

Hanna Bryant

Rodney Buckson

Carl Burman

Spencer Canty

Andre Crews

Agnes Currie

Melvin Davis

Clayton Dendy

Stephanie Dixon

Bruce Durham

Chad Enos

Gregory Garrison

Donna Gass

Ron George

Ida Glenn

Cassandra Graves

Constance Harris Crews

Mark Harrison

Lillian Hood

Joanne Jones

Vernon Keith Montague

Marsha J. Moore

Daryl Nelson

Carol Payne

Joe Purnell

Christine Riddick

Joanne Robinson

Myra Robinson

Michael Ross

Eric Sabin Sims

A’za Sims

ChrisAnne Smith

Yvette S. Smith

Tara E. Smith

Robert Stone

Marsha W. Wall

Cassandra Whiters

Roger Wilkerson

Officer Joe Young

A P R O J E C T O F Y O A C AA P R O J E C T O F Y O A C A PP

SOUTHWEST SAYS FAREWELL TO

CAPTAIN ANTHONY WASHINGTON By Marsha Wall

Captain Anthony Washington of the 12th Police District will be

leaving in May 2009 to begin his work at the 19th Police District located at

20th & Federal Streets, where he has been assigned permanently. Captain

Daniel McDonald, who has commanded the 12th Police District before

Captain Washington, has been re-assigned back to this position after

returning from his deployment to Iraq.

Captain Washington has only been with us 18 short months, but

during that time, he has accomplished so much:

Homicide rate is down 23%

Shootings are down

Arrest rate have increased

Continuation of programs, such as Night Court and Bike Patrol

Initiated the Cops and Kids Mural Arts Program

Assisted the Southwest Community Advisory Group with two

successful Turn In Your Guns campaigns.

We all wish you well, Captain Washington!

NEW BEGINNINGS By Roger Wilkerson & Staff

The Abstinence Program (YBE) has changed its name:

the new name is Youth Mentored Against Crime

(YMAC). Under their new name, the organization held

their First Annual Membership Luncheon on Saturday,

February 28, 2009, at Myers Recreation Center. YMAC

was celebrating the initiation of 17 more members

throughout Black History Month. During the ceremony,

these youth pledged to abstain from crime, violence and

negative activity.

In addition, YMAC is celebrating

the recent launch of their new website on www.freewebs.com/ymac1, which will provide updated information and activities of the organization. YMAC’s Director, Roger Wilkerson, is truly expecting many visitors to their new website to sign the organization’s guest book.

The group will continue to meet every

Tuesday and Thursday from 5:00 p.m. to 7:00 p.m.

on the 2nd Floor at Myers Recreation Center. For

more information, please check their website at

www.ymac1.webs.com or contact Roger

Wilkerson at 215.239.8668.

YMAC’s Director, Roger Wilkerson,

with YMAC member

Youth Mentored Against Crime (YMAC) members

at Myers Recreation Center

Captain Anthony Washington

WARRIORS & WINNERS By Constance Crews

The Higher Ground Warrior Girls AAU Basketball

Team were winners of their division at In The Zone

Basketball Tournament in Bath, PA, on Sunday, April 5,

2009. They won both their games on Saturday, which

automatically entered them into the semi-finals and

finals on Sunday. They also won both games on Sunday.

This was their first tournament of their upcoming

tournament season. The Higher Ground Warriors also

participated in the Kingsessing-Myers Developmental

Basketball League that took place during the months of

October through December. These games were played

at Kingsessing and Myers Recreation Centers. Teams

attended workshop sessions before their games . They

also participated in the Sixers Neighborhood Basketball

League at Kingsessing Recreation Center. The

tournament championship games were on Saturday,

April 11th, for ages 8 & under, 10 & under, 12 & under,

14 & under, and 16 & under.

The Higher Ground Warriors, which is a Basketball

and Enrichment Program, has male and female AAU

teams for ages 12 & under, 14 & under, and 16 & under.

The females will be now having their practices at Kings-

essing on Tuesday and Saturday. For more

information, please call 215.939.6283.

FUN RAFFLE AT ELMOOD SKATING RINK By Marsha Wall

Skates rolling, music pumping, kids dropping and sliding under the watchful eye of their

parents: Those were the sights and sound at the Elmwood Skating Rink at 2400 S. 71st Street,

on Monday, April 6, 2009. It was the No House Untouched First Skating Party and Raffle.

Everyone was excited and hopeful during the drawing, where a home computer and a printer,

$50 cash and two movie passes were raffled off. The complete home computer was donated by

Alpha Tech Philly’s President Robert Barnes. His goal is to provide fully warranted computers

to families for a minimum cost of $100. If you are interested in a computer, contact Alpha Tech

Philly at 215.729.7600 or r.barnesa@aol.com.

No House Untouched has their monthly committee meetings the second Tuesday of every month at Myers Recreation Center, at

6:30 p.m. For more information, please contact Clayton Dendy at 267.939.2366.

Ex-Offenders Program Call 215.685.3373 Help Line Free HIV Testing Call 215.724.7430 Ms. Hanna Bryant

Interested in Becoming A Block Captain Call 267.939.2366 Mr. Clayton Dendy

18+ Interested in finding a job Call 215.729.2389 Ms. Marsha Wall Youth Basketball Call 215.939.6283 Ms. Connie Crews

Abstinence Program Call 215.239.8668 Mr. Roger Wilkerson

Possum Complaints Call 267.385.3800 Hotline Rat Complaints Call 215.685.9000 Hotline

Youth Track and Field Call 215.219.0792 Hotline Town Watch Integrated Services Call 215.686-1422 Ms. Tara Smith

State Representative Ron Waters Office Call 215.748.6712 Mr. Nathaniel Lee

12th Police District—Community Officer Call 215.686.3122 Officer Joe Young

F.Y.I.F.Y.I.

The School District of Philadelphia would like to

invite the parents of public school students in

grades 7th — 11th to their

EARLY PREPARATION FOR COLLEGE ADMISSIONS

PARENT CONFERENCE

at

Temple University, Ritter Hall—Walk Auditorium

13th & Montgomery Streets

On

Saturday, May 2, 2009

From 9:00 AM to 12 noon

LIMITED SEATING: Please RSVP by APRIL 27

For more information and to RSVP call:

215.400.4130

Attendees will receive a copy of the book

WINNING THE COLLEGE ADMISSION GAME,

by Peter Van Buskirk

Registration and Breakfast begin promptly at 9:00 AM.

NHU’s Founder, Hanif Moore, and NHU

members acknowledging raffle winners

WORDS TO REMEMBER By Cassandra Graves

The Southwest EPIC Stakeholders held their 3rd Annual Faith-based

Luncheon “Coming Together: A Community of Unity - Yes We Can,”

on Sunday, April 19, 2009 at New Spirit Community Presbyterian

Church in Southwest Philadelphia. As part of this event, Christina

Duncan, a 15-year old Southwest resident who attends Upper Darby

High School, wrote an essay to honor the work of Pastor Evelyn Graves

in the Southwest Philadelphia Community. She received accolades

from the community, a standing ovation from her church (The Evelyn

Graves Ministries Church) and her peers.

MY PASTOR: THE GREATEST

PASTOR IN SW PHILADELPHIA

By Christina Duncan

My Pastor, Dr. Evelyn Graves, is a

wonderful woman and pastor who has

achieved a lot. She sets a great example for the youth in our church

by accomplishing so much and still being humble. Her story in-

spires us and shows us that we an achieve anything with God’s

help. The way that she decided to minister through drama speaks

into the hearts of the youth. It shows us that we don’t necessarily

have to be a pastor, reverend, or evangelist to be able to minister.

She also shows us that we can lift up the name of Jesus in

everything that we do.

Personally, she has inspired me to be a part of drama because I

watched her plays and also witnessed souls being saved through

them. These drama programs are also what keep kids off the streets

for a while. I spend most of my day at church and that is what

keeps me out of trouble and allows me to be more focused on God.

Through my experience with the ministry of Dr. Evelyn Graves, I

can honestly say that I think my pastor is the greatest pastor in

Southwest Philadelphia.

Christina Duncan

The Higher Ground Warrior

Girls AAU Basketball Team