Aurora’s 2nd Annual Unity Peace March will be held on Saturday, July 30, 2016. The mile-long March will begin with speakers at Aurora Central High School at 10:00 a.m. Marchers will make their way through the neighborhood and finish at Spencer Garrett Park at Joliet Street and 16th Avenue where there will be a resource fair, free food, music, dance, the Mobile Playground, youth sports, activities, and games.
The Unity Peace March is hosted by Gang Rescue and Support Project (GRASP) and Aurora’s Gang Reduction Impact Program (A-GRIP), a coalition of agencies including: The Juvenile Assessment Center; Aurora for Youth; Metro Denver Partners/GRASP; Mile High Behavioral Healthcare; Friends for Youth; Hood Monsters (an acronym for Holding Our Own Destiny, Making Our Neighborhoods Stronger Through Education, Respect and Self-esteem). Other contributing sponsors include the New Dawn Center for Spiritual Living; Aurora Mental Health Center; Aurora Strong Resilience Center; Aurora Youth Options; Boettcher Boys & Girls Club; and the Colorado Foundation for Public Health and the Environment.
About GRASP:
GRASP is a peer-run, intervention program that works with youth who are at-risk of gang involvement or are presently active in gangs. GRASP helps families of gang victims, and serves as a youth advocate. GRASP works well because it is primarily run by ex-gang members who broke free of the gang life-style and turned their lives around. The staff understands how difficult it is to make this transition and the challenges facing youth who do. Established in 1991 after a tragic ‘drive-by’ shooting death of a teen, GRASP has evolved into a highly respected and successful program of Metro Denver Partners, a non-profit organization that for over 45 years has helped kids to better futures through one-on-one mentoring.
About A-GRIP:
A-GRIP is a comprehensive network of providers who coordinate services that are designed to prevent youth from becoming involved in gangs and provide intervention programs to young people (ages 14-24) who are actively involved in the gang lifestyle. These services include: youth risk assessments; sport leagues; pro-active street outreach; case management; mentoring; pro-social activities; educational and court advocacy; job readiness training; employment assistance; tattoo removal; support groups; and mediation to de-escalate gang tensions in the community. A-GRIP is also committed to generating greater gang awareness among youth, parents, schools, youth-serving organizations and our community.
Schedule of Events:
Gathering and Speakers at Aurora Central High School (11700 East 11th Avenue): 10:00 a.m.
Start time for March to Spencer Garrett Park (Joliet Street and 16th Avenue): 10:30 a.m.
Resource Fair, Free Food, Music, Dance, Youth Activities at Spencer Garrett Park: 11:00 a.m. – 2:00 p.m.
Speakers Mayor Steve Hogan and Chief of Police Nick Metz: Noon
Contact:
Dawn Barrett
Program Manager
Aurora For Youth
303.739.1772 or [email protected]
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