Heartbeat of Hope
St. Louis Archive
JANUARY 2022 SPOTLIGHT: Winter Giveaway
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On January 22, one of the Dutchtown site's 3 community events included a giveaway of winter gear including hats, gloves, scarves, socks, and PPE.
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NOVEMBER 2021 SPOTLIGHT: Urban League Annual Turkey Giveaway
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The Walnut Park Cure Violence Team participated in the Urban League Annual Turkey Giveaway at the Draft Kings Casino Queen location, where 900 Turkeys and 900 PC Computers were distributed to needy families. The team on Thanksgiving delivered 48 Hot Meals to Walnut Park/North Pointe Community elders and gave away 20 additional meals to homeless individuals who were truly thankful to receive a hot meal for the holiday. This was done in collaboration with the Urban League’s Federation of Block Units.
SEPTEMBER 2021 SPOTLIGHT: Dutchtown Cure Violence Staff with Dr. Echols Distribute PPE
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The Cure Violence Team in Dutchtown distributes over 5,000 pieces of public education materials on a monthly basis (these materials include information about reducing gun violence, COVID-19 and wrap around services that are available to high-risk clients and the community at-large). In September, Dr. Echols joined them for one of three community events.
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AUGUST 2021 SPOTLIGHT: Derrick Flannel, Cure Violence Outreach Worker in Walnut Park
Mr. Flannel both dedicates his time as a supervisor and mentor of the youth in a collaboration with Riverview West Florissant Development Corporation, a nonprofit organization in the Walnut Park area. The beautification program provides at risk youth employment opportunities within their own communities, cutting and maintaining the lawns of Walnut Park seniors and disabled homeowners.
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JULY 2021 SPOTLIGHT: Employment Connection Program Graduates
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This special Summer break program was funded by St. Louis ReCAST and allowed Employment Connection (EC) to provide the youth with soft-skills training and an introduction to entrepreneurship course. Participants had the opportunity to plan community events with EC's Cure Violence teams in their neighborhoods. EC will also place each of the youth into Summer employment positions until it is time for them to return to high school in the Fall. All participants were aged 16-17 and also received $100 gift cards as graduation presents. Congratulations, graduates!
JUNE 2021 SPOTLIGHT: Cure Violence Walnut Park Site Food Giveaway
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The Walnut Park Cure Violence Team held its first Food and Supply Distribution event on Saturday, May 29th at New Northside Baptist Church. Leading up to the event, the team canvassed the community and distributing fliers. Through the event, they were able to distribute 378 Boxes of Food, 7,560 personal protective equipment (PPE) masks, 50 fun locks, 1,512 light bulbs and 378 things of hand sanitizer. The team also spent time delivering food to the Elders in the community door-to-door.
MAY 2021 SPOTLIGHT: Warren Hayden from St. Louis Children's Hospital Victims of Violence Program.
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On May 13, 2021, Warren Hayden, a Cure Violence Steering Committee member visited with 8 staff members from the Wells Goodfellow/Hamilton Heights site. His goal was To review the work of Cure Violence and to increase collaboration between Children's Hospital Victim of Violence Program.
APRIL 2021 SPOTLIGHT: Mr. Joel Silliman from Dutchtown
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How long have you lived in the Dutchtown neighborhood?
I grew up in North County and my wife in West County. We lived near Page and 270 for a couple years after we were married and moved to Dutchtown in May of 2011.
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What do you love about your neighborhood?
The community and my neighbors have kept us in Dutchtown.
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