Month: August 2022

At Serve & Connect, we envision a future where police and citizens are working together as one community to address the root causes of crime and promote safety so everyone can thrive. We recognize that to fulfill our mission and inspire positive change we must work in tandem with police and community partners who, like us, believe it is possible to bring about healing and change in police-community relationships.

The City of Columbia Police Department has been one of our closest partners since the founding of our organization. Early in our work, we identified that addressing violence, especially among at-risk youth, was a priority for both police and community partners. In response, we worked with Columbia Police Department to launch the North Columbia Youth Empowerment Initiative in 2018 to bring police and community partners together to address the causes of violence and cultivate a community where youth can thrive. Thanks to the work done in collaboration with these partners, Serve & Connect was able to apply for and successfully receive a federal grant last year to help fund evidence-based solutions for a community-driven approach to gun violence reduction. This work will be designed and implemented in partnership with our police and community partners, who have been essential to this work since day one.

We are optimistic to hear of the Mayor’s proposal to establish an Office of Gun Violence Prevention. This type of leadership will help support the sustainability of efforts such as the activities funded by our federal grant. Addressing gun violence requires a comprehensive strategy that engages many partners. No one can do this work alone. We are proud to work alongside the many amazing organizations and individuals who live and serve in our city to advance toward a safer, brighter future for us all.

ABOUT THE NORTH COLUMBIA YOUTH EMPOWERMENT INITIATIVE

The North Columbia Youth Empowerment Initiative was established in collaboration with the Columbia Police Department, Richland County Sheriff’s Department, Serve & Connect, and community leaders to foster police and community partnerships that empower the lives of neighborhood children and youth in the 29203 region. The initiative is funded by a Byrnes Criminal Justice Innovation grant from the Department of Justice.

ABOUT SERVE & CONNECT

Serve & Connect is a SC-based nonprofit that works directly with law enforcement, community stakeholders, and citizen leaders to create police and community partnerships that bring about positive change and promote safe, happy and resilient communities. The NCYEI is a Serve & Connect Compass Partner Community. Compass is Serve & Connect’s program focused on facilitating local movements where police and citizen partners are working together to tackle significant community challenges. For more information, visit serveandconnect.org.

# # #

To learn more about Serve & Connect’s grant and history of work in this
space, click on the buttons below.

Serve & Connect was honored to take part in the Be Safe Summer Series Grand Finale Block Party on August 11 in partnership with the City of Columbia Police Department, City of Columbia, Richland County Sheriff’s Department, Columbia Parks and Recreation and Booker Washington Heights Neighborhood Association. The event was co-hosted with North Columbia Youth Empowerment Initiative (NCYEI), a community policing program focused on creating a community where youth can thrive. With guidance from Serve & Connect, NCYEI is working toward a common goal of infusing resources, building relationships and lifting up local leaders and their vision for positive change. Thursday’s event provided the community an opportunity to meet and interact with local law enforcement while building community camaraderie. Thanks to our partners, attendees enjoyed music, food, games, bounce houses, a free vaccine clinic and more.

The block party for the Columbia community was part of the nationwide Summer of Healing initiative through Heal America, a series of local events across the country that bring together people of different backgrounds and perspectives to fight racial injustice. Thank you to Heal America Co-Chair, Rev. Dr. DeForest “Buster” Soaries Jr., Summer of Healing Ambassador, Leon Ford, and U.S. Attorney for the District of South Carolina, Adair Boroughs for their attendance and contributions as we work together to further our mission. Thank you also to Richland County Sheriff Leon Lott, City of Columbia Police Chief William Holbrook, Bishop James Mack, Pastor for Bible Way Church of Christ, and Ms. Regina E. Williams, President of the Booker Washington Heights Neighborhood Association for participating in our program. We can accomplish so much when we work together. 💙

READ MEDIA COVERAGE: Serve and Connect Hosting ‘Be safe Block Party’, Free gunlocks available Thursday, August 11, at Columbia event, Party with law enforcement at Serve & Connect’s free Be Safe Summer Block Party!

In partnership with Lexington Police Department and Park North Apartments, Serve & Connect was honored to be a part of the Back-to-School Block Party on August 12 in Lexington. As part of the Summer of Healing tour by Heal America, the event not only provided back-to-school resources and free health screenings to attendees, but also an opportunity for the community to engage with local law enforcement through conversations, music, games and food. Radius Church and Sansbury Eye Center showed up for our community by donating school supplies and offering free vision exams. Because of their generosity, children in need will receive free glasses and have everything they need for a successful school year. Thank you to all of our key partners and vendors for making this event come to life! We truly are better together.

READ MEDIA COVERAGE: Back-to-School Block Party – A Summer of Healing Event

Serve & Connect was honored to partner with the City of Charleston Police Department by taking part in the National Night Out event on August 2 at Phillip Simmons Park in Charleston. National Night Out is one of several events taking place across the state to build camaraderie between communities and law enforcement and the Charleston event was part of Heal America’s ‘Summer of Healing’ initiative. National Night Out enhances the relationship between neighbors and law enforcement while bringing back a true sense of community. Furthermore, it provides a great opportunity to bring police and neighbors together under positive circumstances. Attendees enjoyed music, food, games, bounce houses and more. The Charleston National Night Out event was a huge success thanks to the hard work and dedication of the Charleston Police Department and the partnership with the Eastside community.

READ MEDIA COVERAGE: Charleston Police to celebrate National Night Out Tuesday, Lowcountry police departments participate in National Night Out

On July 21st, we were proud to join our partners from the State Law Enforcement Division (SLED) to pack 300 boxes of Greg’s Groceries for communities across South Carolina.

“There are folks out there who are hurting and hungry and when law enforcement can step in and meet the need, it means the world.” said Pastor Belton, Zion Baptist Church, Winnsboro, SC.

The event celebrated SLED’s Community Relations team which was established to to assist all South Carolina Agencies with community engagement and establishing trust. Through the Community Relations Division, SLED agents utilize Greg’s Groceries boxes as a tool for outreach.

“SLED is honored to partner with Serve & Connect in a continued effort to support community policing in South Carolina. Our Community Relations agents are integrated in communities across the state to provide support to local agencies and the communities they serve. Serve & Connect provides the necessary tools, especially Greg’s Groceries, to assist our efforts in bringing the community and police together,” shared SLED Chief Mark Keel.

The City of Florence Police Department and Mullins Police Department were in attendance packing boxes to take back to their communities to distribute to citizens in need. Their participation in Greg’s Groceries is a direct example of the impact of SLED’s outreach through the Community Relations Division.

The event was sponsored by Thompson Funeral Homes and Publix. Our Greg’s Groceries program is also made possible thanks to Walmart, South Carolina Bar Foundation, FirstNet and AT&T.

Thank you to our media friends for covering the event!

• ABC Columbia: SLED partners with other agencies to help people facing food insecurity

• The State: South Carolina law enforcement rallies to pack groceries for the hungry

Serve & Connect was honored to partner with the Orangeburg Department of Public Safety and the City of Orangeburg in the nationwide Heal America movement, Summer of Healing, by hosting a block party on July 29 on Tucker Park Street. This block party was hosted as a part of the Orangeburg R.O.S.E., a community-based movement focused on creating a community where youth can thrive. Working together with our partners, the Orangeburg R.O.S.E. is working toward a common goal of infusing resources, building relationships and lifting up local leaders and their vision for positive change. The event gave the community an opportunity to connect with local law enforcement from Orangeburg Department of Public Safety and build community camaraderie. Attendees enjoyed music, food, games, and more. A huge thank you to Mayor Butler, Chief Austin, Councilwoman Knotts, Councilman Haire and City Manager Sidney Evering for joining the event!

READ MEDIA COVERAGE:
Orangeburg Department of Public Safety holding summer block party; agency building relationships (The Times and Democrat, July 26, 2022)