by Ashley Kelly

 

Newport News, VA - Gloria Smith, Community Director for the Newport Harbour Apartments Neighborhood Networks Center, received a Citizen Service Award from the Newport News Police Department for her work that helped to lower crime and improve relationships between police and children.

 

Giving kids a positive place to go after school was part of Gloria Smith's vision when she became involved with the Newport News Neighborhood Networks Center 10 years ago.  Her mission at the center was two-fold: provide youth with an educational after-school program and enhance their relationship with the police.

 

Smith said that kids and residents were afraid of the police before they began to interact. Their only image of law enforcement was at crime scenes and during violent incidents. That image began to change in 2003 when the police implemented a mentorship program at Newport Harbour Apartments. The police became more visable as they began playing sports with the children, going to cookouts and attending community events at the Neighborhood Networks Center.

 

"Most of my friends think police are bad, but they aren't when you get to know them," said 10-year-old Rheality Webb. "A lot of police I know are really helpful."

 

Rheality and her 9-year old brother, Roderick Webb, both attend the mentorship program. Roderick was given "bravery stickers" by the police for his actions at school.

 

"Someone was messing with me and I walked away," Roderick said. " The police told me to ignore them. They left me alone."

 

The program averages 70 to 90 kids a week. On Wednesdays, teachers from B.C. Charles Elementary School tutor the students, which resulted in higher SOL scores last year, Smith said. Masters students at Christopher Newport University also tutor the children serveral times a week.

 

"This started as a grass-roots effort," said Newport News police Sgt. Jesse Thrower, who has worked with Smith since 2003. "It was getting to know each other. This was a part of community policing."

 

Thrower said the community effort included police meeting with property managers to learn the problems at Newport Harbour Apartments and how they could help.

 

Thrower said that there has been a drop in crime at Newport Harbour Apartments since 2003.

 

"Gang activity, violent crime and drug-related offenses have gone down at the property."Thrower said.

 

"When a mother sees that you actually care about their child, it becomes a totally different dynamic," Thrower said. "This person is not just walking our neighborhood looking for crime."

 

Thrower said people are also more forthcoming with information when a crime occurs.

 

"Residents are more willing to report any criminal activity that jeopardizes their livelihood or their family, " Thrower said.

 

Smith, who has several other projects planned, including a mentoring program for girls, is unrelenting in her effort to provide services for the youth.

 

"My hope is that I have made a difference in at least one child," Smith said. "If I can save them from the street and keep them in school, I figure I've done my job."

 

For more information about Neighborhood Networks centers in Virginia contact:

Rashida L. Mitchell

Richmond Multifamily Program Center

600 East Broad Street, Third Floor

Richmond, VA 23219-4920

(804)822-4870

 

For more information about the Newport Harbour Apartments Neighborhood Networks Center contact:

Gloria Smith

Newport Harbour Apartments Neighborhood Networks Center

2325 Madison Avenue

Newport News, VA 23607

(757)247-0388