Page 34 - July2019 FOP Magazine

Community Policing Spotlight
Healthy Plates builds strong bond in 003
■ BY ERIKA WURST
Healthy food, healthy kids, healthy relationships...that’s what the Healthy Plates program in 003 is all about.
Created by Officer Delbert Howell, Healthy Plates kicked off in March 2018, as a way to combat unhealthy eating and foster positive interactions between officers and local youth.
What began as a small program for seven children held in the district’s community room has blossomed into a bustling monthly event where one-pot dishes are made in the kitchen at Kennedy-King College.
Kids ages 12-18 learn to cook international cuisine and how to make healthy food choices.
Younger children also have a spot in the kitchen, with a focus on easier dishes to help them understand nutrition. “A lot of programs only focus on kids 12-18, but in order to change the perception of police, you have to start younger,” Howell said.
Instead of being on the streets, the group bakes cookies and donates them to local hospitals. And the kids hone their cook- ing skills while gaining culinary confidence.
Working alongside the kids are officers from every assign- ment in the district. They don aprons and hats, making one in- distinguishable from the next. It’s an opportunity for everyone to ather rea read and learn somethin new ⁠— even those officers who might not have the best skills in the kitchen.
For Howell, who worked in Chicago Public Schools before
becoming an officer six years ago, being a youth officer for CAPS was both a no-brainer and a calling.
“For me to be in a position as an officer, I do understand, is my blessing,” Howell said. “Programs like Healthy Plates are a testament to all the hard work we put in over here in the CAPS office.”
Howell feels that the free program, which provides a perfect example of the power of community policing, is one that can be implemented city-wide. “Community members call me and trust me with information,” he said.
So, while officers and kids cook and cut and bake and slice, the side of change that’s also in the mix is a welcome byproduct. “We have a million stories together, and there’s a million more to go,” Howell added. “If I can just change their percep-
tion of police a little bit, then I’ve done my job.”
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34 CHICAGO LODGE 7 ■ JULY 2019