Following completion of our Racial Justice seminars, "Building the World We Dream About", we organized a group of local churches and community organizations, now known as Project Hope Plainfield, to take the work of anti-racism and social justice into our city.

In early June, Project Hope Plainfield sponsored a community forum to address the issue of youth violence in our streets. Over 100 people filled our Parish Hall to hear a panel of law enforcement and judicial officers, educational authorities, gang leaders, and young people, led by the Mayor. Questions by the audience made clear that something needed to be done. Indeed, some problems were addressed within a week. Then A Town Hall Meeting on the violence in July, attended by 500 community members ,reinforced the call for action.

Project Hope will begin its role by sponsoring a comprehensive mentor training program for concerned citizens to be given by Eagles Academy. It is a comprehensive, multi-tiered prevention, intervention, and post-intervention program to help youth and young adults in the prison system successfully reintegrate into the family and the communities. It equips them for success with essential life skills, key values, conflict resolution and decision-making skills. It also provides academic support and tools to help break the cycles of poverty and low achievement. Orientations to the program will be given in the Parish Hall on Wednesdays, August 25th and September 8th, 7:00 to 8:30 pm. If you are 17 or older and are interested in becoming mentor, speak to Carl Heath.