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[Extensions of Remarks]
[Pages E506-E507]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
RECOGNIZING THE 30TH ANNIVERSARY OF SAFE STREETS
______
HON. DEREK KILMER
of washington
in the house of representatives
Tuesday, April 30, 2019
Mr. KILMER. Madam Speaker, I rise today in recognition of the 30th
anniversary of Safe Streets. Since its founding in 1989, Safe Streets
has made a lasting and transformative impact across the many diverse
neighborhoods and communities throughout Tacoma and Pierce County.
Operating as a community-led grassroots effort, Safe Streets has
thrived through a dedication to building a broad coalition of friends
and neighbors that seek to create vibrant and flourishing neighborhoods
across Pierce County. They are made up of interfaith leaders, business
owners, school teachers, law enforcement, and devoted volunteers from
the community.
Safe Streets has organized and trained a network of 125 Neighborhood
Groups in neighborhoods, involving over 13,500 community leaders and
190,000 residents who work daily to ensure that their neighborhoods and
schools are safe. Safe Streets' Community Mobilizers help these
Neighborhood Groups define and address their own needs by utilizing
organized block watches, youth leadership teams, graffiti removal
teams, safe routes to school, and widespread substance abuse and
violence prevention education initiatives.
Safe Streets is doing significant work in adapting and evolving as
an organization to meet the ever-changing needs and demands of its
communities. Through the development of their Non-English Speaking
(NES) program, Safe Streets now provides services to residents who have
limited or no English-speaking experience. As a result, Safe Streets
has been able to regularly connect and meet with community members from
the Japanese, Korean, Samoan, Chinese, Philippine, and Cambodian
communities, among others, of Pierce County.
Safe Streets is also revered for their work in engaging, mobilizing,
and mentoring young people across Pierce County. Many high schools in
our communities have established Youth Leading Change (YLC) clubs that
are made up of core students, guided by a teacher and coach, and
supported by Safe Streets staff. Participants in YLC learn leadership
skills and present on prevention issues to their fellow students
throughout the year. Alumni of this program have won numerous awards on
the state and local level, including a trip to Washington, DC in 2014
and multiple City of Destiny Awards for Youth Leadership in the City of
Tacoma.
Madam Speaker, I can say with certainty that our neighborhoods and
communities across Tacoma and Pierce County are safer because of the
work of Safe Streets. It speaks to their tenacity that even after 30
amazing years, the many volunteers and staff that make up this
organization are committed to
[[Page E507]]
evolving and growing to ensure that every neighborhood in Pierce County
is a thriving and safe place for all its residents. I wish them the
best in this effort and pledge my commitment to supporting them however
I can.
____________________
