Page 14 - Florida Sentinel 11-20-15 Edition

Local
Safe And Sound Committee Seeks At-Risk Children Before Violence Starts
BY LEON B. CREWS Sentinel Staff Writer
The Hillsborough Safe and Sound Committee is reaching out to at-risk chil- dren before violence strikes.
Commissioner Kevin Beckner said the urgency came about in 2012 after the Sandy Hook incident.
“We were looking at ways to prevent violence before it happens, and become more proactive.
“Violence continues to be a problem in our communi- ties and we’ve become de- synthesized to it. There are a lot of factors that can be at- tributed to the violence. I’m happy that our healthcare model has helped us identify the worst areas by zip code.”
Comm. Beckner said they have a lot of people in- volved in the project, and the initiative is not age-based.
“Our focus right now is on gun violence, and that’s what the committee feels needs to be dealt with immediately.
“The debates about gun control versus the second amendment are fruitless, and putting flags at half-mast is fine until the next shooting occurs.”
Comm. Beckner said after the brutal murders of 20 first-graders and 6 adults in Newtown, Connecticut, he felt compelled to look at the issue of violence more closely and from a different perspec- tive.
“Despite a 45% decrease in violent crimes in Hillsbo- rough County since 2008, vi- olence still plagues us.
“For decades, we have put the burden of preventing vio- lence on the broad shoulders of law enforcement officials. While law enforcement is critical t the security and safety of the community, its primary focus is enforcement and suppression. We cannot arrest our way to prevention.”
COMM. KEVIN BECKNER
Comm. Beckner said another important fact to re- member is our children are exposed to violence on televi- sion, in the music they listen to, and in the communities they live in.
“Violence occurs in our homes, schools, churches, workplaces, shopping centers and transportation systems.
“Rather than react to events after they occur, we must turn our sights to the business of preventing vio- lence before injury or death happens. No single organiza- tion can solve a social pro- blem of this magnitude.”
County Commissioners launched the Violence Pre- vention Collaborative along with the Mayors of Tampa, Plant City and Temple Ter- race, the Hillsborough County Sheriff’s Office, the School Board of Hillsborough County, the 13th Judicial Cir- cuit Court Chief Judge, the State Attorney’s Office and the Public Defender’s Office.
These policy makers ap- pointed 77 committee mem- bers to serve on seven specialized committees.
“We selected Prevention Institute to serve as our ex- pert consultant,” said Comm. Beckner.
Public Defender Ju- lianne Holt is Chair of the Hillsborough Violence Pre- vention Collaborative.
Pastor Thanks Community For Helping Get Church Repaired From Flood Damage
BY LEON B. CREWS Sentinel Staff Writer
What started on July 20, 2015 as a rain storm, turned into a near three-week event, flooding several areas of Tampa, and costing residents and business owners thousands of dollars in repairs.
One of those who suffered from the flood waters was Pastor Timothy Kemp of Peace Progressive Primitive Baptist Church.
Although the actual congregation part of the two story structure was saved from the flood damage, the lower level had to be com- pletely shut down.
The lower level of the church was being used for other services and to feed those in need every Sunday.
Pastor Kemp said thanks to St. John Pro- gressive Pastor Bartholomew Banks and so many other clergy in the area, he has re- opened the lower level, and started feeding people again.
“We were blessed to get a contractor to do all of the work as a charitable donation, but the materials needed to be purchased.
“We had more than 30 volunteers help out
PASTOR TIMOTHY KEMP
through our outreach feeding ministry to the homeless, and Attorney Sean Shaw was in- strumental in helping our fundraising effort.”
Pastor Kemp said his heart is enlarged for the support he’s gotten and admits when the damage was done, he didn’t know what to do.
“I prayed to God and as always, He came to my rescue with his blessings.
“Having faith can help you overcome any- thing, no matter how tragic it may seem.”
PAGE 2-B FLORIDA SENTINEL BULLETIN PUBLISHED EVERY TUESDAY AND FRIDAY FRIDAY, NOVEMBER 20, 2015