Safe streets can save lives
In my last commentary, I shared with you the importance of our younger generations, urging our older generations to not dismiss the work and power of our youth.
Conversely, the younger generations must not dismiss the work of generations who have come before them. One of my mom’s favorite people in the Bible is Ruth. When Ruth came to Bethlehem at the time of harvest she stayed behind the reapers and learned how to reap.
When talking about Ruth to his congregation, Texas-based megachurch pastor T.D. Jakes said that “to learn about reaping, you can’t learn askew. You must be behind someone who has done it before. You must learn behind the reapers. The reapers set the pace; they will cut down your learning curve.”
I’ve been very fortunate to learn from great people. I’ve been mentored by several individuals in personal and professional lives. And I continue to be mentored and led by a group of reapers known as the East End Concerned Citizens Group.
In the fall of 2005, the East End Community of Uniontown was designated a Blueprint Community by the Federal Home Loan Bank of Pittsburgh. Blueprint Community is an initiative to help community leaders plan for and carry out effective and comprehensive community revitalization efforts. The FHLBank of Pittsburgh engaged 17 funding and program partners to serve as catalysts to revitalize older communities and neighborhoods.
The purpose of this initiative to foster strong local leadership and collaboration, focus efforts on planning and goal-setting, and build local program capacity to sustain community growth. As a function of the Blueprint initiative a steering committee was formed. Comprised of community residents, property owners, and community leaders, the committee formally became the East End Concerned Citizens’ Group.
Since its inception, the group has maintained representation and commitment from the community, professional organizations, government and law enforcement agencies. Although the faces have changed, the group has maintained 25-30 members over the past five years. Additionally, the “core four” (aka — 5-6 executive committee members) have served as the stronghold for the group and community at-large. They have engaged in community development, strategic planning, community revitalization, blight removal, event planning, advocacy, and educational programming.
The East End Concerned Citizens Group works closely with Uniontown Mayor Ed Fike, the Uniontown City Police, Pennsylvania State Police, Uniontown Area School District, state Rep. Tim Mahoney, (D-Uniontown), the East End United Community Center, the Uniontown Redevelopment Authority, Fayette County Community Action Agency and other businesses and politicians to host monthly meetings; two neighborhood cleanups each year; National Night Out and annual East End Community Day in August of each year; free educational workshops and seminars for community members; seasonal parties for youth at the community center; and award ceremonies for youth at the community center.
Through these events and activities the EECCG has effectively served its mission, which is to “work together to create and maintain a productive, healthy, and safe community in the East End of Uniontown.”
Realizing that the work must continue and that we must exhaust all efforts to keep our community safe, the East End Concerned Citizens Group is partnering with the Weed and Seed Initiative, the Lafayette Concerned Citizens Group, the Gallatin Avenue Concerned Citizens Group, Mayor Fike, the Uniontown City Police, the Pennsylvania State Police, CrimeStoppers of Fayette County, and Magisterial District Judge Joe George to host the first annual Gun Buy Back program.
The purpose of this event is to reduce the number of guns, especially illegal guns on the street and provide a process where citizens can turn in weapons without fear of prosecution. In exchange for the weapon(s) turned in, citizens will receive one $50 gift card to a select retailer in our community.
Although our hope is that residents of the east Uniontown area will participate, anyone can turn in a weapon and receive a gift card for it. Additionally, trigger locks, gun safety information, hot chocolate, coffee and donuts will be available. (The event will be held from 10 am to noon on Saturday at the East End Fire Station on Connellsville Street in Uniontown. For more information, please call Jeff McLaughlin at 724-438-4287.)
East End is a community that has long suffered from a bad reputation only highlighting blighted homes, gun violence and illegal drug activity. But there are several great successes that are never shared or celebrated that we must acknowledge.
Dilapidated homes have been torn down and brand new ones built; increased police presence and reporting of suspicious or illegal activity continues to rise; positive programming for youth through the community center and Lafayette Elementary/Middle School is growing exponentially; and streets remain clean and property owners are caring for the property more than before.
We need to get rid of our “stinkin’ thinkin” — do something about the bad and celebrate the good. Young or old, God uses people who take action. Mr. Ozzy Minor, one of East End Concerned Citizens Group’s original members and one of my beloved mentors, told me that if I plan to stay here (Uniontown), then I’d better get busy making it better. I am so grateful that I am able to glean behind the reapers, learning from and being blessed by the love of my mentors who are committed to creating and maintaining a productive, healthy and safe community.
Gina Jones is a life-long resident of Fayette County and serves the community as an educator and advocate. E320 – Follow Gina on Twitter @professorgmarie.