The Salvation Army Boys and Girls Clubs in the area are benefiting from a gang-prevention grant that Gov. Robert Ehrlich recently announced.
The Boys and Girls Clubs run by the Salvation Army in Baltimore, Middle River and Glen Burnie will receive $20,000 of the $200,000 grant, which will go towards their Passport to Manhood and Smart Girls programs.
The two programs, which include 100 children, are used to promote self-esteem and keep kids out of gangs, said Wanda Newton, executive director of the Salvation Army Baltimore Area Boys and Girls Clubs.
“A lot of people are in gangs because they feel like they don?t belong,” Newton said. “These programs give them a place to belong.”
The Smart Girls program, for girls ages 8-17, helps girls make smart choices regarding peer pressure, sex and pregnancy, and drug and alcohol prevention.
The Passport to Manhood program, designed for boys ages 11-14, gives boys the “tools to cross over to manhood.”
“Our mission is to make sure they?re making good, sound decisions and they have mentors to relate to,” said Anita Bass, director of the Middle River club.
Bass said both the programs are focused on providing kids with the tools they need to succeed in school, at home and in their neighborhoods.
“We want them to understand about relationships, school and making sure they?re staying on the right path and that they?re on top of their schoolwork,” she said.
The kids respond positively to the program, learning to develop relationships with the other kids in the program as well as the adults.
“I like it because it tells you how to be a man and what you should do when you grow up,” said Keith Smith, 12, a member of the program. “It tells you how to take care of your family, be responsible and reach your goals.”
With the money from the governor?s grant, the programs will have the opportunity to grow over the next few years and reach even more kids.
“If you try to go into that gang lifestyle, it prevents you from becoming a productive member of society,” Newton said. “We?re working with the kids on how to become positive role models and productive figures in the community.”
