Forums look to get feelings about police from youth

DANVILLE, Va. (AP) - When Sheila Baynes learned about the Community Youth/Adult Forums, she agreed to help at two programs in one week.

“’’We have to build a relationship between youth and law enforcement,” Baynes said. “In order to do that, we have to know how the youth see law enforcement.”

April 5 was the first of the Community Youth/Adult Forums, events to get real feelings and thoughts about police from the youngest of the community.

The next forum was held 6 p.m. Thursday at the Boys and Girls Club of the Danville Area.

The Danville Police Department, Danville Sheriff’s Office and the Pittsylvania County Sheriff’s Office partnered with the Danville Church-Based Tutorial program, as well as the YMCA and the Boys and Girls Club, for these events.

Tutorial program executive director Kenny Lewis said they received a 21st century policing grant from the attorney general’s office.

“The forums are one of the phases of the grant,” Lewis said.

The forums are to “get the parents and the students’ thoughts, feelings, expectations” about the police officers in their community, Lewis said.

With this knowledge, authorities can “channel that to find out what we can do to make that relationship better.”

Danville Police Chief Philip Broadfoot told the crowd of around 40 people that “we need your input.”

Danville Sheriff Mike Mondul thanked the crowd for taking the time to “share with us your thoughts about what we can do to improve our relationship” with the youth.

Law enforcement members then left the room, to allow the youth to share their feelings without fear of judgment.

Close to 30 youth sat at different tables with a facilitator to talk about their feelings on police.

The facilitators were from 4H, Averett University and community volunteers like Baynes.

Pittsylvania County 4H extension agent Mandi Dolan said her organization - the four H’s stand for head, heart, hands and health - said they helped because “it is important for the youth to engage in these conversations.

“It’s a controlled environment; they’re not being influenced by anything. They can open up” and share their thoughts, she said.

Originally from Danville, Lewis said “it certainly has been a joy and a delight” to give back to the city that gave so much to him.

“It’s been in my heart for a long time . to come back to my hometown and support” Danville, Lewis said.

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Information from: Danville Register & Bee, https://www.registerbee.com