The 100 Black Men of Jacksonville in Partnership with COJ
KICK OFF “SUMMER NIGHT LIGHTS” PROGRAM @ Charles Clark Park
18 June - 7 Aug 2010
Youth anti-violence program targets at-risk youth and teens while offering safe alternatives to Friday and Saturday night activities for families.
The 100 Black Men of Jacksonville embraces the invitation from The City of Jacksonville ’s Recreation and Community Services Department’s (JaxParks), in partnership with the Jacksonville Sheriff’s Office, local media, non-profit and community-based organizations, as they introduce The 'Summer Night Lights" (Jax-SNL). This program is an anti-violence program targeting at-risk youth and currently focuses on five neighborhoods designated as high crime areas by The Jacksonville Journey. The program will run eight consecutive Friday and Saturday nights, beginning June 18-7 Aug 2010.
“Through efforts of The Jacksonville Journey and active community involvement, we are beginning to see positive results from our fight against crime in our city,” said Jacksonville Mayor John Peyton. “Actively engaging our youth is paramount to many of the successes we’ve seen. Summer Night Lights is another step towards crime prevention through quality, accessible programming.”
The 100 Black Men of Jacksonville: will manage the all activities at Charles Clark Center and Park 8793 Sibbald Road Jacksonville, Fl 32208.
Jax-SNL Activities @ Charles Clark Include:
Adult & Youth Mentoring- Ronnie King J-100 Contact
Jewelry Making & Financial Literacy- Melvin Wooten, J-100 Contact
Sports (Basketball, Football, Swimming, Softball)- Robert Cummins & Eugene Darius, J-100 Contacts
Health & Wellness (Adult Prostate Screening & Childhood Obesity)- Charles Griggs & John Mosley, J-100 Contacts
Education: Tillis Q. DeVaughn & Kevin Cotton, J-100 Contacts
Jax-SNL program has two major components:
1. Extended Hours and Programming: From June 18 – Aug. 7, the five parks will expand their hours on Fridays and Saturdays from 7 p.m. to midnight. Expanded programming at the sites will include youth-centered sports, swimming, recreation, nutrition and artistic activities. An entertainment schedule for each location will consist of local celebrities including 93.3 FM The Beat’s Easy E and T-Roy and members of the Jacksonville Jaguars. JaxParks’ popular Movies in the Park series will also play at leach location (The movie chosen for Charles "Boobie" Clark park will be "Blind Side"). In addition, the community centers will be open and community resource partners will be on site with valuable information related to programs and services.
2. JaxSNL Youth Squad: Jax-SNL will provide jobs for 50 at-risk youth to be on the JaxSNL Youth Squad. JaxSNL Youth Squad members will be ages 16 – 21 and will be identified with the assistance of JSO and the Public Defenders Office. They will receive training from JaxParks staff and Outward Bound, a national educational organization that focuses on character development through outdoor experiences. Ten youth will be assigned to work at each park where they will be responsible for event photography, programming activities and promoting the program to their friends and families.
The Jax-SNL Youth Squad will also host a website that features weekly photos and blogs about the parks activities. It will also provide up to date schedules regarding activity, entertainment schedules, a list of Jax-SNL partners, crime statistics, media and more. The site is available now atwww.jaxsnl.com or by visiting
www.jaxparks.com
and selecting the link to Jax-SNL.
Jax-SNL Partners
The following companies and organizations have contributed to this initiative as supporters:
• 100 Black Men of Jacksonville
• CBS 47 Action News
• Clear Channel Radio - 93.3 FM The Beat and V101.5
• Jacksonville Jaguars
• Jacksonville Sheriff’s Office
• Odd Rod
• Outward Bound
• Public Defenders Office
• Riverside Arts Market
• State of Florida Department of Financial Services
• University of Florida Extension Offices
• Women of Color Cultural Foundation, Inc.
"An inch of progress is worth a yard of complaint."
- Booker T. Washington