City Of Charleston Awarded Outstanding Achievement City Livability Award From USCM
July 22, 2015
Mayor to Also Announce a Major Donation to the Programs
CHARLESTON, SC – On June 20, 2015, The City of Charleston received an Outstanding Achievement City Livability Award from the United State Conference of Mayors at the Annual Meeting in San Francisco. One of 5 cities to receive the award, the winners were determined by an independent panel of judges, selected by The U.S. Conference of Mayors.
However, Mayor Joseph P. Riley, Jr and Chief Greg Mullen were not able to attend the conference to receive the prestigious award. The program receiving the award was submitted by the City and the Charleston Police Department. An essential requirement for providing a community with an environment of public safety is a positive and open relationship with the community. The goal has been to create a comprehensive multifaceted collaboration to offer citizens an opportunity to develop positive relationships with the officers who serve them. The programs foster relationships with the community by offering life changing opportunities for children, families and ex-offenders. Camp Hope, Friday Night Lights and Turning Leaf combine diverse elements to build community capacity and renewal. The programs concentrate on personal and social responsibility, health/wellness and behavioral expectations while providing various unique life experiences.
In 2007, Camp Hope was initiated to provide experiences and opportunities to keep kids from becoming the next generation of tragic statistics. Friday Night Lights followed in 2010 as a way to reach underserved families by offering free activities in the city’s parks on Friday nights, giving the community a safe way to enjoy their neighborhood. Turning Leaf began in 2013 as a way to redefine normal behavior within a community and reduce recidivism among incarcerated parents.
Mayor Joseph P. Riley, Jr. said, “These programs provide a great way for our community to get to know and appreciate our police department and the fine work that they do. Camp Hope and Friday Night Lights were initiatives which opened doors to the community for both children and adults and Turning Leaf is giving individuals confidence and skills as they return to their community from incarceration. We are also letting our children know that we care about them and their families and that they are important to the community. I am proud of our police department and their dedication and hard work on behalf of our children, youth and families.”
Chief Greg Mullen said, “Engaging with the youth and families in our community is very important to the Charleston Police Department. Through enrichment programs like Camp Hope, Friday Night Lights and Turning Leaf, police officers along with young people and adults are working, learning and having fun together. This helps foster positive relationships and open lines of communication.”
Mayor Riley also announced a contribution of $50,000 to help sustain our efforts involving the Charleston Trinity programs which include Camp Hope, Friday Night Lights, and the Turning Leaf Project. Jerry Scheer, a local businessman with the T-Bonz Foundation, donated the funds which will help ensure the continuance of these programs which make a difference.
