Just a lil gesture for the kids

Thursday, April 11, 2013

We can all help Fairfield’s next generation

By Kelvin Wade


“It is easier to build strong children than to repair broken men.” — Frederick Douglass

It was a little more than a year ago when two people were shot and killed at Parkway Gardens. It’s a neighborhood that is certainly no stranger to violence and hard times.

I can safely say that when I was a kid, no one was shot in my neighborhood. I never saw open drug dealing. There was no security and it was rare that police visited the neighborhood.

At Parkway Gardens on the last Friday on the month, the children are invited to the clubhouse for movie night. They watch an entertaining film such as “Finding Nemo,” “Hotel Transylvania” and others, and have a meal.

It started off as movies and snacks, but City Councilman John Mraz noticed that many of these kids from disadvantaged homes were food insecure. They looked forward to that meal. So Mraz provided sandwiches and fruit trays. Another evening saw spaghetti being served from a local pizzeria.

“At least we know that when they go home from these movies they have a full stomach,” the councilman told me.

For one gathering, Mraz went to Raley’s and bought a ton of fried chicken. Then he went to Joe’s Buffet downtown to get some of their delicious macaroni and potato salad to go with it. When they found out what he was ordering all of the food for, they refused payment.

They didn’t donate that food for recognition because, at the time, they would’ve had no idea I’d be writing about it in the future (and probably don’t want me mentioning it now). They did it because it was the right thing to do for those kids and I’m mentioning it to show you what kind of stand-up businesses we have here in town.

Minnie Noble, President of the Tri-City National Association for the Advancement of Colored People, facilitates the movie night and is working with Mraz to put together a children’s report card incentive program. Mraz also wants to get the Police Activities League involved. They want to reward kids who bring their grades up.

Councilman Mraz, Police Chief Walt Tibbett, City Manager Sean Quinn and Walmart pitched in to provide children with gift cards in the past. Mraz would like to do it again in a more structured way.

When I spoke with Noble recently, she expressed some doubt as to whether she’d be able to take a busload of children to a Sacramento Kings game but she still holds it out as a goal. Noble, who works with foster children, noticed how foster kids went camping, took trips to the lake and went to basketball and baseball games while other disadvantaged at-risk youth in her neighborhood did not. She wants to show these children there’s more to life than the streets.

We all have a selfish interest in at-risk youth. A movie night, a trip to a ball game, sports and rewarding improving schoolwork just might show these kids they have a stake in this community. While we could end up with future Matt Garcias and Tony Wades, we can also end up with more kids like the ones who robbed Travis Dairy and caused the owner to have a fatal heart attack.

When you look at the number of churches in Fairfield or thriving small businesses or just individuals who can contribute their latte and scone money, we’re not talking about vast sums. If you’ve got five bucks, you could donate to help give these young kids a great movie and a solid meal.

This is something that the community should be able to do for this and other high-crime areas. If these kids grow up with little or no hope, we’re the ones who are going to pay the price right along with them. By helping these children, we help the entire community.

Kudos to everyone who has gone beyond their job description in giving back to the community. But more of us need to pitch in. The next movie night is April 26. If you can help out in any way – no way is too small – please contact John Mraz at 580-5712, Minnie Noble at 685-4904 or Parkway Gardens Homeowners Association at 422-4744. Thank you. Peace.
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ADDITIONAL NOTES: I received an email from Fairfield City Councilwoman Pam Bertani. Bertani wants to make sure the peoper people get their due. My column was about kids and not accolades. I've responded to her and will be writing more in the future.That's all I'm going to say right now.

Good Morning Kelvin,

I read your Daily Republic article this morning regarding Parkway Gardens - and 
I write to clarify the record.  

Many key people volunteered many hours and much effort to help Parkway Gardens 
begin the recovery process after the double homicides occurred in early 2012.   
After I organized and hosted a series of Town Hall Meetings at Parkway Gardens 
commencing in March 2012, the Neighborhood Organizing Workforce (N.O.W.) Team 
emerged and went to work in Parkway Gardens.  

N.O.W. organized and launched the Movie Night events at Parkway Gardens in 
October 2012.  The following individuals were absolutely essential in making 
Movie Nights happen at Parkway Gardens:

Pastor David Reaves (Mount Calvary Baptist Church)
Pastor John Harris (Liberty Christian Center)
Larry Blueford (Operation T.H.U.G.S.)
David Derf (Mount Calvary Baptist Church)
Jeanine Morris (Liberty Christian Center)
Alice Grimes (Parkway Gardens)
Krista Johnson (Parkway Gardens)
Cynthia Philips
Glennette Florence
Hank Lane
Dr. Frances Nelson

I am not clear why the individuals you interviewed failed to mention the fact 
that the folks listed above actually launched the Movie Night events – and 
implemented a corresponding community outreach strategy at Parkway Gardens.  
These people deserve a big THANK YOU for their efforts at Parkway Gardens – and 
beyond.

For reasons that are still unclear to me, Parkway Gardens resident Minnie Nobel 
and property manager Harriet Stricklen ultimately became insurmountable 
impediments to N.O.W.’s much needed work at Parkway Gardens.  Consequently, The 
N.O.W. Team has moved on to other Fairfield neighborhoods that welcome and 
appreciate community organizing as an effective way to retake our neighborhoods 
from fear and violence. 

This really is not about accolades Kelvin – it’s about appreciating the work 
that we  *all * have done to make Parkway Gardens – and therefor our City – a 
better and safer place to live.  

People support what they help to create!  This is The N.O.W. Team’s philosophy 
and underlying platform for building meaning relationships within our community.  
Relationships matter – and are the key to sustaining peace on the streets of 
Fairfield.

Very best regards,

Pam

Pam Bertani
Fairfield City Council Member
1000 Webster Street
Fairfield, California 94533
(707) 628-6974