FOUNDATION'S NEW WORKBOOK HELPS FIGHT CRIME

The latest weapon in the Foundation's campaign against crime is now available. The National Community Empowerment Workbook guides individuals through the process of uniting a Neighborhood Watch to prevent crimes in their area.

"Neighborhoods can join forces and work together to make their neighborhoods safer," says NCEP Chair Janice Gomes. "They can challenge situations that are threatening or unusual and produce an environment of caring and safety in their neighborhood.

"Today, we are faced with a simple choice -- we are part of the solution or we are part of the problem. This workbook will help neighborhoods put together and keep together an effective group."

Among other key points, the workbook focuses on:

• How to get a Neighborhood Watch going.
• How to identify key people in your neighborhood.
• How to organize and run effective meetings.
• How to establish emergency numbers and report crimes.

About 25 communities in California, Oregon, Washington, and Arizona are currently working with the NCEP, whose ultimate goal is to establish Neighborhood Watch groups across the United States. Most recently, NCEP staff traveled to Winters, California, on September 6 to help residents start up their own crimefighting organization.

Frequently, the Foundation cooperates with local Kiwanis Clubs and other community groups to hold giant town meetings at colleges, neighborhoods, churches, and social centers. "Many police departments already have neighborhood programs, and we are able to help them get in touch with individuals in a more organized way," Gomes says. "But police officers are by definition reactive. This program enables community members to help take care of problems before they start.

"We also believe in preventing future crimes by helping parents think about how they take care of their kids," says Gomes. "If kids don't feel safe because of violence at home, they form their own protective organizations, like gangs. If they don't know their neighbors care about them and look out for them, they won't respect the people around them. Children know all too well what the world is like.

"The other day I asked my eight-year-old granddaughter what she wanted to be when she grew up. She said, 'Outside.' I said, 'What do you mean?' She replied, 'Because when I'm older, I won't be able to go outside anymore, because the gangs will be so bad that it won't be safe to even have windows.' That is what our kids think of today's society."

To help start a Neighborhood Watch program in your community, please call (510) 625-4290.