Coalition offers ‘thanks’
Dear editor:
Thank you on behalf of the local branch of the Hot Springs Stop the Violence Coalition. We are grateful for your support of our organization by having Ms. Grace Brown interview members and writing the article for Taking Action: E.N.O.U.G.H. (Evolution of the Next Generation Obligated to Guard Humanity) youth rally held on Nov. 23.
The timely announcement of our event helped with our success. Many others also contributed to our success. Our desire is to thank all of those persons publicly: Dear Supporters,
Because of you, the first public event for Taking Action: E.N.O.U.G.H. (Evolution of the Next Generation Obligated to Guard Humanity) will go down as a successful chapter in the Hot Springs Stop the Violence Coalition record book.
At this time, we want to thank all who attended. We salute Mayor Pat McCabe,
City Manager Bill Burrough, Police Chief Jason Stachey and officers from the Hot Springs Police Department. The officers were attentive and informative to the questions asked by the youths and showed genuine interest for their concerns. We had student attendance from three of the Garland County public schools (Hot Springs, Lakeside and Lake Hamilton). We want to especially thank Dr. Stephanie Nehus for support and encouragement. It is our hope that all schools will be open to inviting Taking Action: E.N.O.U.G.H. in partnership with the HSPD to share conflict/resolution strategies with students.
We would like to thank our sponsor, Mrs. Joyce Raynor, founder of Healing Hearts and Spirits, for funding the event and recognize the following participants and organizations: Visitors Chapel A.M.E. Church; Webb Community Center; Carrigan Catering; ésus, Mike Gali and Creyo; Mrs. Wilda Hughley, founder of Miss Victorious Pageant; National Association for the Advancement of Colored People (NAACP); Cutwell 4-Kids and founder, Anthony Tidwell; Ouachita Children Center; and R.A.A.D. (Rise Against Alcohol and Drugs).
We are in the early stages of planning for our next event. Our monthly meetings are held on the third Sunday of each month at 5 p.m. at the Webb Community Center, 127 Pleasant St., Hot Springs, unless otherwise announced. We encourage youths and young adults to come out and join us. We ask that you come with a desire, determination, open mind, and willing heart to help stop the violence. Our mission is to provide the children of our community with a brighter future free of bullying, free of hunger, free of homelessness, free of violence, free of loneliness, free of having no voice, free of hate, and free of discrimination. Elmer Beard Hot Springs Stop the Violence Coalition