Mayor Randall L. Woodfin announces pilot project to aid local conflict resolution efforts among Birmingham youth
BIRMINGHAM – Mayor Randall L. Woodfin announced details on Wednesday of a community pilot project committed to encouraging conflict resolution among youth in Birmingham. Two dozen community organizations have signed on for the effort.
“I have said and firmly believe we must double down on conflict resolution efforts and opportunities for our youth,” Woodfin said at a City Hall news conference. “If they won’t come to use, we must go to them.”
The program, launched in late spring, is committed to creating opportunities for mentoring, counseling, and character building through academics, the arts and athletics. Nearly 900 Birmingham youth have been part of this effort so far.
The following conflict-resolution organizations have received $10,000 each as part of their efforts: Family Guidance Center, The Dannon Project, One Place Metro Alabama Family Justice Center, College Admissions Made Possible (CAMP), Conflict Interrupters Model, A4One, Piper Davis Youth Baseball’s Summer Academic & Baseball Fundamentals Program, Southwest Alliance Association, Dream Girls Academy, Chosen Girls Rock!, Making the Transition, Kuumba Community Art, The Initiative for Creative Arts, Make It Happen Theatre Company, Empowered to Conquer Youth Conferences, Inc. and Women Achieving Victory Through Excellence, Inc. (WAVE, Inc.)
Also, $2,500 was distributed to the following youth-sports organizations: Black Watch Sports, James Lewis Tennis, Next Level Sports, Nick Bell Football and Cheer Camp, YMCA Youth Center Soccer and Football Camps, Playmakers Elite, LLC, Alabama Nightmares, and Together Assisting People (TAP). Contributions to these groups were derived from the city budget, where funds were already set aside for conflict resolution response programs.
The effort comes ahead of a weekend of violence in Birmingham, where eight teens were shot – and one fatally killed – in two separate incidents.
“These individuals with me represent how we must deal with the problem of violent crime against our young people,” Woodfin said as he stood among representatives of several of the outreach organizations. “We need a comprehensive approach that involves police, the courts, but also community business partners – all working together in support of our children.”
