04-07-08
#16
Former Mount Vernonite creates "Street Ball
Cops" program to help reduce gang violence in California
Kenn
Hicks
Story by Joe Parisi
Gang
violence is being reduced in California thanks
to the efforts of Kenn I. Hicks, creator of "Streetball
Cops," a program comprised of Los Angeles police
officers seeking to bridge the gap-through basketball.
Hicks, who was born
and raised in Mount Vernon, attended
Graham Elementary School and was one of the
first students to attend Mount Vernon High
School the first year it opened in 1963. In 1979, Hicks relocated to California
from Mount Vernon, where he began
a career which consisted of working for the
State of California and the Department of
Correction.
Hick's academic credentials are impressive, having
obtained a Bachelors Degree in Sociology from Winston
Salem State University in North Carolina, and a Master's
Degree in Social Work from the University of Kentucky,
where he is scheduled to be inducted into the School of
Social Work "Hall of Fame."
As a licensed Clinical Social Worker and
Approved/Certified Domestic Violence Counselor, he has
specialized in individual, group and family therapy for
over twenty-five years with youth, adults, and elderly.
He has also appeared on television, talk-radio programs,
and featured in many newspaper articles for his holistic
approach to domestic violence prevention.
Due to gang violence and an increase in crime, in 2007,
Los Angeles County Supervisor Michael D. Antonovich,
reached out to the public and asked for suggestions on
how to reduce gang violence. Hearing about the request
for ideas, Hicks felt obligated to help. He implemented
a program to help reduce gang violence by providing
employment opportunities, educational resources, and
health referrals to gang members in high crime areas.
Providing alternatives to gang violence was appreciated
by the community, gang members and their
families/children. The program also received praise from
the police, and politicians throughout Southern
California.
The event and theme, "Ballin for Peace in the Streets
and Silence to the Violence," was featured in a national
magazine, prompting people from other states to contact
Hicks about getting help in developing the same type of
program in their state.
Having been exposed to the Harlem Rucker Summer League
Basketball tournaments as a player in New York City,
Hicks decided to help even further by creating a program
known as "Street Ball Cops" and integrating it into the
"Ballin for Peace in the Streets and Silence to the
Violence" program.
Last summer law enforcement officers consisting of
police officers, deputy sheriffs, parole agents and
probation officers formed a basketball team and traveled
to various community outdoor parks to play with the
local adult basketball players. The five-week tour
consisted of games strictly in high crime areas of Los
Angeles, Long Beach, San Fernando Valley, Pasadena,
Lancaster, and Riverside County.
The program was intended to provide a friendly activity
between the police and the community. In addition, the
goal was also intended to encourage teens and young
adults to join in helping to provide a safe community
for everyone. Along with the basketball game, half-time
activities consisted of games and contests for the
children in attendance. Sponsors donated free t-shirts,
sneakers, hats, and other giveaways for the children and
spectators.
The success of this outreach program (Street Ball Cops)
may encourage other Police Departments throughout
California and the nation to provide similar community
activities in high crime areas. "Our goal is to have a
ball without drugs, alcohol and gang violence," says
Hicks.
The "Street Ball Cops" program has been a big success
and Hicks seeks to see police officers throughout the
U.S. coordinate various friendly activities in areas of
high crime in order to ingratiate themselves within
their communities.
This summer, Hicks plans to continue with his program
to reduce gang violence due to the overwhelming success
his program achieved last year.
Hicks is introducing yet a new program for 2008. This
year he will be implementing a program to have gang
members surrendering their guns. The program is being
called: Peace in the Streets "GUNS for Sneaks." Hick's
new program is creating a lot of excitement, and they
will be giving a pair a sneakers to everybody who turns
in a gun.
All those wishing to communicate with Hicks can email
him at: mrh384@aol.com.
