Abstract

The Red Hook Public Safety Corps in Brooklyn, New York runs a youth baseball league at no cost to residents. By providing a safe, positive activity, the program provides an alternative outlet for young people, and is part of a larger crime prevention effort for the neighborhood.

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Issue

As Red Hook, Brooklyn experienced reduced economic activity, crime, graffiti, and trash, AmeriCorps members in the Red Hook Public Safety Corps sought to improve the quality of life. Before the Corps intervened, there were few positive social outlets for children in the neighborhood.

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Action

• The Red Hook Public Safety Corps' youth summer baseball league is for children ages 7 to 12.
• AmeriCorps members, social groups, individuals, and businesses supplied the funds to provide youth with free membership to the baseball league as a crime prevention measure.
• Corps members and other community volunteers acted as coaches, providing positive role models for the children.

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Context

The Red Hook Public Safety Corps was launched in 1995 as an AmeriCorps community service program that puts local residents to work on a variety of crime prevention and victim assistance projects.

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Outcome

By the summer of 2002, the league had 180 children participating.

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Evidence

Sponsoring a summer baseball league worked as a crime prevention effort by providing a safe, positive activity. The baseball league's founder says that children learn self-respect and respect for others, sportsmanship, and interpersonal skills.

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Source Documents

Related Practices

• Working collaboratively to reduce juvenile gun crime in Boston
• Developing and implementing a Block Parent program

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