Religious leaders work to bring down violent crime in Dover
Rita Paige is a pastor at Star Hill Church in Dover. Part of her work, is interacting with youth in the city; particularly kids from downtown.
Reverend Paige goes on, “Kids are angry. They have a lot going on in their lives due to the breakdown of family structure. A lot of times they don’t know how to channel their anger.”
That’s why Reverend Paige believes the percentages of violent crime in downtown Dover have gone up. This includes a 200 percent increase in homicides, 93 percent increase in burglaries, and 144 percent increase in fraud.
Reverend Paige and her colleague Reverend Mark Harmon, senior pastor at Father Kingdoms Church agree; young people aren’t responsible for all violent crime. However, they both feel focusing on our youth is the solution. But first, they need positive places for young people to go, that don’t cost money.
Reverend Harmon says, “You go to the YMCA and it’s astronomical for somebody who’s just barely eating. Boys and Girls Club same thing.”
The most recent numbers show the poverty rate in downtown Dover is 41.9 percent, compared to the rate of the entire city which is 16.9 percent.
This is why these two church leaders, their social action committee, and the interdenominational ministerial alliance have developed church basketball teams, dance groups, and other youth activities with no cost to participate.
They plan to try out a free breakfast in April for young men ages 12 to 18. It’s a perfect time to lay the latest crime numbers out on the table. However, Reverend Paige says she wants the attendees to do the talking.
She replies, “Let us know what’s important to them and what kind of activities what they think they need to help make their lives better, and to increase the quality of life in the community.”
Reverend Harmon and Reverend Paige don’t want to see another increase in 2016.
That free breakfast will be held at Holy Trinity Church in Dover on April 11th at 8 a.m.
Reverend Paige and Reverend Harmon say anyone is welcome to attend. They also tell 47 ABC there is a meeting at city hall the third Monday night of every month. The meeting is with the mayor of Dover and the deputy chief of police to work on these issues. Those meetings are open to the public as well.
