SW CAG’S TURN IN YOUR GUN CAMPAIGN:

“NO QUESTIONS ASKED” IS BACK AGAIN People were standing in line at 9.30 a.m. on

June 28th, 2008, at Myers Recreation Center to

turn in a handgun. Many rumors were circulating:

It was said that we were conducting a raffle, only

giving away one Playstation 3. Supposedly, we

were not giving out XBOX 360s because they

cost $325. One of the most harmful rumors was

that I may get arrested because

I have a warrant, if I go turn in a gun. None of

these rumors were true. We did not ask

anyone’s name, no one was arrested, and

everyone who turned in a gun either received

a $100 gift card, XBOX 360, an IPOD, MP3

Player, a digital camera, or a Playstation 3.

Despite all the rumors, the Turn In Your Gun Campaign held

in June was a success. In fact, the community said it needs to be

done again, so we are having another TURN IN YOUR GUN

CAMPAIGN on Saturday, November 15, at Kingsessing Rec.

Center, located at 51st & Kingsessing Avenue in SW Philadelphia.

We will be giving out the same incentives for turning in 45 cal.,

9 mil., 380s, Tec 9s, 40 cals., sawed-off shotguns, and other

firearms. Remember: NO QUESTIONS ASKED. Come join

Power 99 FM that will be broadcasting live, along with the SW

CAG, 12th District Police, and YOACAP at 10 a.m. at Kingsessing

Recreation Center. For more information, call 215.851.1834.

October 2008

Issue 4

THETHE S o u t h w e s tS o u t h w e s t CORNERCORNER

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UP

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

The Turn In Your Gun Campaign held in June at Myers

Rec. Center was a complete success. Pictured are a few

guns that were turned in that day, no questions asked.

Power 99 FM, SW CAG, 12th

Police District, and YOACAP are

partnering for this crucial event.

The Southwest Community

Advisory Group (SW CAG)

would like to invite you

to our

Annual Community Meeting

at

Myers Recreation Center

on

Tuesday, October 28, 2008,

between 6 p.m. and 7 p.m.

You spoke, we heard

and we responded.

Join us, Power 99, and our

special invited guests to find

out how you can be a part of

this community-led effort.

Please RSVP by calling

215.729.2389.

We look forward to seeing

you at Myers!

Light refreshments will be served.

VOLUNTEERS MAKE A BIG DIFFERENCE

A young man age 14 or 15 who lives around the Kingsessing

Recreation Center was at a recent football practice with about 30

other boys his age. There were six volunteer coaches that were

working with these boys to better prepare them for their upcoming

football season. At the end of practice, one of the volunteer coach-

es wanted to applaud the hard work of one of the youth by sharing

what success the young man had that practice. He called out his

name and began to speak highly of him in-front of his

fellow teammates. The boy smiled and said thank you to the coach-

es, while his team gave him a loud round of applause. After view-

ing this support, I thought, what would happen to these teens if

they did not have men who were willing to volunteer their time to

be mentors, coaches, and positive figures? We have to male an

investment into our youth and communities. So please, become a

volunteer. Without your help, many organizations could not be as

successful. To volunteer a few hours of your time, please contact

Marsha Wall at 215.729-2389.

The SW CAG supports a fair Election

VOTING IS EVERYONE’S

RIGHT, NOT A PRIVILEGE

OF SOME

By Tiffany Brown

In recent weeks, there have been many rumors

about people’s ability to vote in the upcoming

presidential election, from not being able to wear

certain clothing to your polling place, to

requiring at least 5 years of citizenship or ability

to speak English, or to being told that if you have

a warrant out against you, you will not be able to

vote. ALL OF THESE CLAIMS ARE FALSE

and meant to discourage voting. If protecting

your right to vote by discouraging such tactics is

not enough reason to vote, here are a few more:

Violence in communities

The financial & housing crisis

Unemployment rates

Rising gas and grocery prices

4,000 + deaths in Iraq

Poorly funded schools

Cost of college tuition increasing upwards of 6%

Please note that if you have registered to vote

and the County Board of Elections says that you

are missing information on your voter

registration form, please respond to their letter by

October 16th, 2008 to ensure that you can vote on

Election Day, November 4th, 2008. You do have

the right to contest their decision if your

registration was rejected for any reason.

If you have any problems on or before

Election Day regarding people trying to

intimidate you about voting, not sure where your

voting site is located, or just have questions,

please call 1-866-MYVOTE-1 (1-866-698-

6831).

Vote November 4th, 2008, and be a part of the

solution to make this country the one you want it

to be.

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

Youth Basketball in October Call 215.939.6283 Ms. Connie Crews

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 215.971.0339 Mr. Bruce Durham

18+ Interested in finding a job Call 215.851.1959 Ms. Tameka Matthews

Track & Field / Ages 5 & up Call 215.219.0792 Mr. Daryl Nelson

Support Group - Women infected w/HIV Call 215.851.1898 Ms. Diane Mills

Possum Complaints Call 267.385.3800 Hotline

Rat Complaints Call 215.685.9000 Hotline

To be a Volunteer Call 215.729.2389 Ms. Marsha Wall

Townwatch Integrated Services Call 215.686-1422 Ms. Tara Smith

**** Mark your calendars

for the next...

JOB FAIR At the 12th Police District!

Friday, November 14th, 2008

From 9 a.m. To 1 p.m.

12th Police District

Headquarters

6448 Woodland Avenue

For more information, call

Officer Joe Young at (215) 686-3122

SOUTHWEST SHOWED THEIR PRIDE By Marsha Wall / Photos by Clayton Dendy

On Saturday, September 20,

2008, Southwest Philadelphia

beamed with pride.

Early that beautiful crisp

morning, SW Philadelphians

celebrated their 14th Annual

12th Police District Open House

and Southwest Pride Day

Parade and Festival.

The procession, which start-

ed at 10 a.m., had antique cars

and sleek new ones donated by Pacifico Mazda / Hyundai.

Members of No House Untouched, young people from the

Evelyn Graves Christian Academy, various other community

organizations and sponsors strutted to the beat of the Phoenix

Drill Team down Woodland Avenue, from 72nd to 65th streets.

Along the parade route, there were several hundred onlookers,

cheering and applauding as each group marched by.

Once the parade reached the 12th District Police Station, hot

dogs, water bottles, soda, snacks

and water ice, donated by the

Brown’s Family Shop Rite, were

passed out to everyone free of

charge. There was outside

entertainment as well. A “Jaws

of Life” demonstration was

performed by Engine 40 Ladder

#4 Medic 19 of 65th & Woodland

Avenue. A children’s pavilion was set up with a moon bounc-

er, clowns and face painting. In addition, various

vendors were available with important resource information.

Several honorees were presented with awards, including our

very own SW CAG member, Marsha J. Moore, for all her hard

work throughout the community. Other SW CAG members,

such as Officer Joe Young, Hanna Bryant, Lois Clayton, Tara

Smith and Christine Riddick were also actively involved in the

event. The SW CAG would like to congratulate Officer Joe

Young, Helen Hellon Divers, and the Southwest Pride Day

Planning Committee for such an entertaining and well

organized event. See you next year!

Septa also participated in the parade by

bringing an antique trolley from the 1940s

that the youth were allowed to ride.

The Harper Singers’ Band were

also part of this successful event

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