To address the increasing incidents of juvenile crime among minority youth, particularly African American males, NOBLE has focused its efforts on conducting nationwide Youth Town Hall meetings.   The meetings, entitled, “A NOBLE Focus on Juvenile Crime,” is an opportunity for law enforcement, academia, community leaders, the public sector and youth to have an open discussion on juvenile crime, particularly in minority communities.   “Juvenile crime, especially among African Americans and Hispanics, is an epidemic in many urban communities, said NOBLE National President Chief Douglas DeLeaver, Maryland Transit Administration Chief of Police (retired).   “A holistic approach that involves all segments of the community is necessary to develop strategies and tactics that will aggressively combat this problem.”

The first meeting was held on Saturday, January 19, 2008 at Benjamin Franklin High School in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania.   Over 150 people attended including concerned parents, community members, school officials and young male members of “Don’t Fall Down in the Hood”, an intensive, multicultural community-based treatment program designed to reduce juvenile crime in the areas of possession and use of firearms, as well as, the frequency of assault, theft, and narcotics among Philadelphia's youth.   Additionally, several young males from various schools within the Philadelphia area spoke about the intervention and after-school programs they organized.   Panelists included: State Representative Ronald Waters, Deputy Police Commissioner Charlotte Council, Director Joseph Certaine, Governor's Office, George Mosee, Assistant District Attorney, Hon. Judge Kevin Dougherty, Vernard Trent, Executive Director Crisis Management, School District of Philadelphia, James B. Golden, Jr., Chief Safety Executive, School District of Philadelphia 

The second meeting was held on January 22, 2008, at Virginia Union University.   The Belgian Theatre served as the venue for the standing-room-only audience of over 250 people.   Various community leaders, concerned citizens, ex-offenders and law enforcement personnel contributed to the lively, 2-hr. discussion.   Guests were welcomed by Chief Rodney D. Monroe, Richmond Police Department and Chief John I. Dixon, III, Petersburg Police Department.   The discussion was moderated by RadioOne radio personality, Clovia Lawrence.   Panelists included: R. Keith Dent, Sr. Asst. Chief, Virginia Department of Corrections, Nyibe Cousins Flythe, Youth Empowerment, Stephanie Garrison, Richmond Juvenile Probation and Parole, Charles L. Satchell, Violence Prevention and Human Service Specialist, Khidra Smith, CEO Salimah’s House, LLC, and Pastor Geronimo Aguilar, Richmond Outreach Center.

The third meeting was held at the University of Maryland, Baltimore campus on Saturday, February 23, 2008.   Panelists included former Baltimore Police Chief Leonard Hamm, Rose Hamm, retired educator, Noelle Winder, Baltimore attorney, Rev. John Heath and Cleveland Barnes, Chief of Police, University of Maryland, Baltimore Campus. Although the turn-out was low, the moderator Heber Brown engaged the audience and provided encouragement to the panelists who provided great insight on some of the issues affecting the city’s youth.

The fourth meeting was held in Washington, DC in conjunction with the Metropolitan Police Department (MPD) Summer Youth Job Fair on Saturday, March 29, 2008 at St. Thomas More Catholic Church. Approximately 300 people were in attendance with exceptional support from the MPD Cadet program. The meeting was moderated by the popular radio personality DJ Rico. Panelists included   The Honorable Anita Josey-Herring, Associate Judge, DC Superior Court, Diane Groomes, Assistant Chief, MPD Patrol Services and School Security Bureau, Vincent Schiraldi, Director, Department of Youth Rehabilitation Services, Yasha Williams, Director, Office of Youth Program, Department of Employment Services, Kenny Barnes, Executive Director, Roots, Inc., Kirtriya Washington, Police Cadet and Freshman Student, University of DC and Grayling Williams, President, Washington, DC Chapter NOBLE.   Students had an opportunity to attend several break-out sessions following the 2-hour town hall meeting.   The sessions focused on getting prepared for the summer, financial literacy, interacting with the police, dressing for success and preventing violence.  

The fifth and final meeting was held in the heart of Newark, New Jersey at St. Benedicts Preparatory School.   Approximately 100 people were in attendance to hear a lively discussion by prominent area panelists that included: John W. Farrell, Violence Institute of New Jersey, Jazzmine Smith, Student, Drew University, Jacob Spann, Student, Montclair State College, Paula Dow, Essex County Prosecutor, Essex County, Prosecutor’s Office, Derrick Chow-Yuk, Student, St. Benedict’s Preparatory School, Professor Patrice Davis, Department of Criminal Justice, Essex County College, and Dr. Lenworth Gunther, founder, The Gunther Group.   This meeting was videotaped and will be made available to the NOBLE membership.

In addition to the town hall meetings, the first community engagement was conducted at the Richmond Police Academy on April 4-5, 2008.   The Engagement is the second phase of the town hall meeting which gives participants a chance to develop an action plan on how to work with law enforcement to address some of the issues plaguing their neighborhoods.

We are also so appreciative to Howard University graduate students, Camonia Long, Michelle Demus, and Deshonna Collier for recording the dialogue for each town hall meeting.   The data will be used to write a white paper which will be discussed further in July at this year’s NOBLE national education and training conference in New York City.   Sociology professor, Dr. Terri Adams-Fuller is the project manager for the white paper.

It is NOBLE’s desire to host more Youth Town Hall meetings across the nation in the futureThanks again to Wal-Mart for the support of our efforts!.