DV Journal

(From a press release.)

The new Lower Merion Township Police Superintendent Andrew J. Block, recently met with Race for Peace Committee Founder Andrew P. Howell ll and Race for Peace Committee Activist and Advocate Alim Howell.

“We want to make sure everyone, especially the Ardmore and Bryn Mawr community residents, understands we are here to promote positivity with our law enforcement officers,” Andrew P. Howell ll said. “We host events throughout all the counties and we want to invite all to attend our events. Sometimes there is a bad taste from the past with police officers but our organization is here to build positive relationships with police officers.”

The department’s mission statement says its purpose is to improve the quality of life by providing the highest level of professional police service through a partnership with the community. They “are committed to creating a safe, crime-free environment by enforcing the laws of the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania and the United States of America Constitution. We will accomplish this by practicing our core values of integrity, professionalism and respect. We commit ourselves to the highest moral and ethical standards. We maintain the public trust through the performance of our duty without favor or prejudice. We conduct ourselves in our professional and personal lives in a manner beyond reproach.”

They also are committed to excellence in serving the community.

“We maintain a well-trained, disciplined and innovative workforce dedicated to continuous improvement. We commit ourselves to unite the public and the police by treating each other in an unbiased, dignified and compassionate manner. We value the diversity of our community by providing timely, impartial and courteous service to all,” the police stated.

“We want to make sure that everyone in the community is treated fairly. It is all about the community residents who we are here to protect from any wrongdoing,” Block said. “I have resided in Lower Merion Township for many years. All I want for the township and the residents we protect is to have as little crime as possible”.

Lower Merion Police Department Officer Daren Swain added, “This meeting was good because of the new position our Superintendent Andrew Block holds. It was basically a refresher of what is upcoming through Race for Peace Committee. We pinpointed that the Vernon V. Young Memorial Park/Ardmore Avenue Community Center “AACC” could be in collaboration with the Race for Peace Committee and also Next Level Sports Inc. based out of Ardmore Montgomery County.”

Ardmore Avenue Community Center, nicknamed “The Shack,” Program Coordinator is Crystal L. Galloway.

“With the sad loss of our Executive Director Linda M. Jackson through cancer disease, things will never be the same. But the Race for Peace Committee organization is helping with their efforts by having basketball games at the Lower Merion High School Kobe Bryant Gymnasium and the Downs Gym at the Lower Merion Administration Building,” Galloway said.

Quahsim Gredic, “Coach Q,” the Ardmore Avenue Community Center’s new program coordinator, said, “Crime and gun violence has to slow down. People should be more focused, aware, and concerned about what they are doing positively.”

The Ardmore Avenue Community Center‘s mission is to provide a wide range of educational, recreational, cultural, and social resources for residents, particularly children and youth, in South Ardmore and its neighboring communities. “Teaching the Youth of Today Tools for Tomorrow” is the motto of the AACC.

“The center’s programming gives youth the tools and confidence needed to become strong, goal-oriented adults who will have a positive impact on the community and the future. We take seriously our charge to have a positive impact on the development of our youth, offering a safe haven with programs where they can learn new skills, develop important competencies and establish healthy, supportive relationships with peers and adults. Relationship building is very important in the lives of young people,” said Galloway.

Alim Howell added that he is originally from Ardmore, a town straddling Montgomery and Delaware County. Howell mentioned that on Monday, May 27th, Memorial Day, there was a shooting at the Ardmore American Legion Post Leon Spencer Reid, Post 547, American Legion. On Friday, May 31st, a vigil at Bethel African Methodist Episcopal Church Ardmore was held in response.

“It was positive for the whole community coming together to build the safety, security and the gun violence should not be happening at all,” he said.

(From a press release)

On Jan. 17, a person used a hammer to hold up a drug store in Clifton Heights.

The Delaware County borough is not known for crime, but crime in the surrounding areas, especially Philadelphia, is spreading.

Recently,  community activist Alim Howell and Clifton Heights Borough Mayor Mark J. Campbell,  Council President Suzanne Briddes. Chief of Police Timothy Rockenbach, and Borough Manager Thomas N. Micozzie. Meeting location was inside the Clifton Heights Borough Hall Administration Building.

Clifton Heights officials agreed to work with Race for Peace, an organization that helps police and the community connect, to try to put a stop to crime in the borough.

They discussed included the gun violence and crime that have been rising throughout the borough. In addition to trying to find the solutions on how to prevent more gun shootings and violent crime from happening throughout the borough.

(left to right) Mayor Mark J. Campbell, Chief of Police Timothy Rockenbach, Community Activist Alim Howell, Council President Suzanne Briddes, & Borough Manager Thomas N. Micozzie

“In August of 2023 there was a horrendous shooting that started from Clifton Heights and ended up in Upper Darby. I want the gun violence throughout certain neighborhoods of Delaware county to stop completely. Including the crime as well. Sometimes depending on the scenario you cannot get people to stop doing bad traumatic actions but if our elected officials and community members keep trying to put an end to getting guns off the streets then a lot of this gun violence mayhem could be avoided,” said Howell.

“I have resided here for years and anything our borough can do to help we are here for it,” said Campbell.

Briddes said, “We have a number of youth programs here in the borough to keep our youth active and out of trouble and they tend to be year round.”

“Most of the problem with the high rise in crime and gun violence is stemming from our City of Philadelphia,” said  Rockenbach.. “Our borough is a small community and I like to think we have strong security and safety measures within our borough.”

And Micozie added, “Crime and now a lot of gun violence is happening everywhere throughout all the counties in our state. But we have to come up with more solutions on curbing crime and gun violence as a whole.”

During the  meeting, Howell also introduced the two organizations he is involved with, Race for Peace Committee and Urban Navigation, both aimed at preventing crime by increasing community involvement.

(From a press release)

On Saturday December 9th the Race for Peace Committee will present ‘Delco Got Talent.’

It’s a family event with an anti-violence alternative. The talent show will be located at the Darby Borough Recreation Center 1022 Ridge Avenue Darby. The event is in partnership with the Darby Borough and the Darby Borough Police Department. It will be held from 12 noon through 4 p.m. Youth members can sign up on the 9th at 11am.

It’s a free event with food including hot dogs, hamburgers and pretzels. Also a t-shirt giveaway.

Darby Borough Council members Janice Davis and Lucille Pratt are helping to host the event with Race for Peace Committee Founder Andrew Howell.  Race for Peace is a nonprofit that focuses on improving police relations with the communities they serve.

“We want our youth to please come and share their extra extraordinary talents! Comedy, singing, dancing, playing instruments, and more,” said Howell.

The committee would like to invite all youth to the talent show event, especially youth who are students in the William Penn School District which covers the Darby Borough residential area.

“This talent show event is a good way to connect with our youth. They can display what they like to do for fun in front of their peers and fellow community members. With social media making a big impact on our youth in today’s generation more events like this should be held more often.” said Race for Peace Committee Activist and Advocate Alim Howell.

A talent show is an event in which participants perform the arts of singing, dancing, lip-syncing, acting, martial arts, playing an instrument, poetry, comedy or other activities to showcase skills, Alim Howell said. Many talent shows are performances rather than contests, but some are actual contests. The arts can also help us to build connections with others through different perspectives, creativity, and new ideas. Discover how a talent show no matter how big or small can boost confidence, promote social inclusion, and create opportunities to show off the things we enjoy most.

For more information about the talent show event contact the Darby Borough or the Race for Peace Committee Facebook page.

From a press release

National Night Out is an event meant to increase awareness about police programs in communities, such as drug prevention, town watch, neighborhood watch, and other anti-crime efforts.

On August 16, the  Bridgeport Borough Police Department held its National Night Out event in partnership with the Race for Peace Committee. This was the fourth time Bridgeport Police Department and the Race for Peace Committee have partnered up for the annual national night out event. About 100 people attended the Night Out from 6-9 p.m. outside Bridgeport Borough Hall.

Snacks, bounce houses, police cars, fire trucks, helicopters, K9, and SWAT demonstrations, music, and business table setups were all provided for the event.

Race for Peace activist Alim Howell said the event brings the community and police together, which is greatly needed these days.

“Events like National Night Out everywhere bring some hope and display a positive setting with police and people of the communities who are not in law enforcement. Events like this can be a strategy towards open communication to help decrease the crime and violence crisis that we are all witnessing,” he said.

(From left) Bridgeport Chief of Police Todd Bereda, Race for Peace Committee Founder Andrew Howell, Borough of Bridgeport Council President Kyle Shenk.

The Bridgeport Borough Police Department’s mission statement reads, in part, “The members of the Bridgeport Police Department are committed to improve the quality of life by providing the highest level of professional police service to the residents and citizens of Bridgeport. We commit ourselves to the highest moral and ethical standards.

“We maintain the public trust through the performance of our duty without favor or prejudice. We maintain a well-trained, disciplined, and innovative workforce dedicated to continuous improvement. We, the members of the Bridgeport Police, are respectful to our fellow citizens. We are sensitive to the thoughts and needs of everyone. We show compassion and understanding. We treat people with dignity and respect in a manner that we would want to be treated. We value the diversity of our community by providing timely, impartial, and courteous service to all.”

The Race for Peace Committee has been established since 2016. The organization has formed many relationships with local police departments in addition to political offices in the area, including Bucks, Chester, Delaware, Montgomery Counties, and the City of Philadelphia. Their main goal is to try and promote peace in our communities, bridging the negative gap between police officers and citizens from all cultural backgrounds.

The mission of Race for Peace is to revitalize the community through enrichment and outreach programs in every community and to maintain a collective voice and sharing of ideas creating an atmosphere of peace that encourages good citizenship.

“We are again this year partnered with the Bridgeport Borough Police Department. We love that this is our fourth collaboration with the Borough of Bridgeport. It is always a good atmosphere for all people to come together for a fun night,” said RFPC Founder Andrew Howell.

Officer Trevor Knechel shakes hands with a boy.

Bridgeport Police Chief Todd Bereda said, “Working as the chief of Bridgeport PD, it has been an honor to partner up with Race for Peace throughout the years. The organization brings great community value and positivity with our local law enforcement officers”

Bridgeport Mayor Beth Jacksier was among the many elected officials who attended the event.

“Our National Night Out brings an annual opportunity between community and police officers! A lot of diversity and all age groups attend the event, Residents are getting to know the police officers better to break down barriers. We try to take it a step up every year and make sure everyone has a great time. Race for Peace has a great mission, and the Borough of Bridgeport is happy to have them on board,” she said.

And Bridgeport Borough Council Vice President Tony Heyl said, “We are very proud of the work our police department is doing with our Bridgeport citizens. The event brings togetherness, and a lot of diversity stems from our night outs too.”

Bridgeport Borough Councilman At-Large Saba Al Zaid called it “a fantastic event.”

In February of this year, the Race for Peace Committee gave Bridgeport Borough Juvenile Officer Shannon Sell an award for recognition of active participation and support for the police force while also demonstrating peace and humanity for all Bridgeport community members.

“I’m proud my office participates in the Borough of Bridgeport National Night Out. This event brings the community members together and shows outstanding leadership. It is nice to see constituents of the District take the time to attend the night out every year,” said state Sen. Amanda Cappelletti (D-Montgomery/Delaware).

Follow Bridgeport Police and Race for Peace on social media: @BridgeportBoroughPD, @RFPCSocialMedia.

Race for Peace and the Haverford Police are holding their 4th annual Ice Skate for Peace on July 19.

Race for Peace is a nonprofit group that seeks to promote better relations between police and African Americans. It is just one of several events that Race for Peace holds during the year to bring police and Black people together to foster friendship and understanding.

“Race for Peace Organization brings communities together through programs, resources, and activities for the family, and to reach an understanding between law enforcement and the communities they serve,” said Alim Howell, an activist, advocate, and spokesperson for the group. Howell and his father, Andrew Howell, of Delaware County, started the organization in 2016.

“All of the Race for Peace events bring together diversity and unity within the community. In addition to bringing a positive engagement with our police officers. Having youth alongside Police in a positive manner is very great to see,” said Howell.

Haverford Police Lt. James Kelly said the department has been working with Race for Peace for about 10 years to try to foster better relations with the community. And various other departments in the area, including Lower Merion, Philadelphia, Radnor, and Tredyffrin are also involved.

The Skate for Peace event allows people, especially youngsters, to meet police officers in a friendly environment and talk and get to know each other, he said. Haverford Township owns the indoor ice rink and donated the time to Race for Peace.

As a bonus, the Philadelphia Flyers will be hosting a simultaneous event in the parking lot, with some players, food, fun, and its mascot, Gritty.

“It’s helpful,” said Kelly, about the connections with the community fostered by Race for Peace. “The world has a lot of problems right now. To solve them, it always starts somewhere. It starts with one person at a time, as Race for Peace founder, Andrew Howell, says.”

Race for Peace President Hameen Diggins said, “Our young people are awesome! Having the youth show up to our past events was an honor. We want to see greatness from them to create better connections with the new generations.”

Rental skates will be available for those who don’t have skates and also both human and mechanical ice skate helpers will be on the ice for those who do not know how to skate.

About 10 Haverford officers and command usually staff attend, as well as police from other area departments, Diggins said.

The event runs from 5 to 7 p.m. on July 19 at the Havertown Skatuim, 1002 Darby Road #3616, Havertown. Everyone is invited to attend.

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