I want to salute some of the men and women for their volunteerism with Chicago Alternative Policing Strategies programs. They’ve persevered with passion and loyalty.
I want to salute some of the men and women for their volunteerism with Chicago Alternative Policing Strategies programs. They’ve persevered with passion and loyalty.
Over the last few months, more than 600 CAPS civilians, volunteers and business partners were recognized for their continued service to the program.
At one ceremony, 488 were honored for their service. During a separate event, 125 CAPS business partners, Target, Allstate, Portillos, Leak and Sons Funeral Homes, Jewel Foods, ICE Chatham Theaters, Advocate Trinity Hospital, Com Ed, Wal-Mart, Bank Of America, Pepsi-Cola General Bottlers, J.P. Morgan Chase Bank, CNA, John Rodgers, founder and owner of Ariel Capitol Investments, Razor’s Edge barbershop, Carbo’n Mexican, Pizza Capri, Bottom Nail Salon, Angel Wings Daycare, Harris Ice and Jamaica Foods, to name a few, were recognized for their commitment to serving under-served communities and underprivileged youth and adults.
In another event, those participating in School Safety patrols — 151 new parent volunteers — were honored for contributing to the safe passage of students.
I also want to give kudos to three Chicago Police officers in the CAPS Projects Office: Dennis Brown, Irish McCray-Jones and Maudessie Jointer.
Brown founded “Cops Interacting and Targeting Youth” (C.I.T.Y.), a year-round sports and team-building after-school initiative that provides youth, ages 11-16, and opportunity in organized sports. The program promotes inter-personal relationships and confidence-building activities. It keeps the youth off the streets and into several sports, including archery, flag football, bowling and basketball. Mentoring is also a component of the program.
McCray-Jones founded “Students Taking Authority and Reaching Success” (S.T.A.R.S.), a 14-week program for female students. The program educates the girls with the necessary social skills to become productive members of society. The mentoring sessions include lessons on good manners, personal care, money management and self-esteem.
Jointer supervises the highly successful “Keeping It Real” program. She brings convicted burglars — paroled or on probation — to many venues to share their experiences about their life before the criminal behavior started and life behind bars. The program aims to deter youths from going down the same path.
The CAPS volunteers, business partners and Chicago police officers mentioned are important microcosms into how entrenched the program is throughout the city and how much it has become a vital component in just 17 years.
These people do not seek the spotlight but seek to serve where service is necessary.
I urge anyone who wants to get involved with CAPS volunteerism, to attend your CAPS beat meetings, call the police district where you reside or call my office at 312-745-5900, or dial 311.
Copyright 2010 Chicago Defender
Ronald M. Holt, a veteran Chicago police officer, is the Director of the Chicago Alternative Policing Strategy (CAPS) Implementation Office. He’s also a founding member of the Purpose Over Pain organization. www.purposeoverpain.org.