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<br />Program Narratjve <br /> <br />Narrative is limited to one page per section, Text must be 10 or 12 pitch or pOint type. <br />1, Problem Statement <br /> <br />Since 1991, the Ci ty of Paris has had a recurring problem with <br /> <br />youth including violence and drug involvement. The Ci ty has addressed <br /> <br />the problem by increased patrolling, but a prevention effort was needed <br /> <br />because the City had very little to occupy young people, especially <br />those in the 14-18 year old age group that is most susceptible to gang <br /> <br />involvement. <br /> <br />A Police Athletic League (P.A.L.) program was begun in a <br /> <br />rented building and quickly grew to serve an estimated 260 regular <br /> <br />youth participants. To accommodate the growing program, the Paris News <br /> <br />donated a building in downtown Paris that has a great deal of space, <br /> <br />covering approximately half a square block of two-story building and an <br /> <br />adjoining parking lot, Many of the rooms in the building are large but <br /> <br />need a great amount of renovation. <br /> <br />Much of the renovation is being <br /> <br />addressed by community donations. <br /> <br />What is most needed is to maintain the full-time Coordinator to <br /> <br />survive existing activities such as karate, weight lifting and boxing <br /> <br />programs that are taught by community volunteers. The coordinator also <br /> <br />schedules additional activities, including an Offenders Program of <br /> <br />supervised activities for juveniles which were referred by the Lamar <br /> <br />County Juvenile Probation Department. <br /> <br />In addition, the Coordinator <br /> <br />oversees maintenance and renovation of the building and meets with <br /> <br />cormnunity volunteers and <br /> <br />ci vic <br />, <br /> <br />groups to encourage greater community <br /> <br />support of the program, <br /> <br />CJD..11 <br /> <br />Trro....... 1nlt"l t <br />