The Tribune

A DELEGATION from the Urban Renewal Commission, led by Cynthia “Mother” Pratt, visited Davie County, Florida, last week to gain a greater understanding of how the Boys and Girls Clubs of America organise programmes to help urban communities and youth development.

Mother Pratt, co-chair of Urban Renewal, was accompanied, among others, by Senator Cheryl Barzard, Superintendent Stephen Dean of the Royal Bahamas Police Force, and Ms Daphne Bannister, from the Women Supporting Women organisation. The Bahamas party met Davie County Mayor Judy Paul and a group of executives from the Boys and Girls Club with a view to further expanding the collective development of Urban Renewal in the Bahamas.

Mayor Paul said she will visit the Bahamas in a few months time to further contribute and strengthen the links between the two organisations. Mother Pratt, who was presented with a key to the town, said: “It was an incredible correlation of ideas that was presented to further the expansion of what can be achieved by Urban Renewal organisationally and financially, to greater improve upon the structural development of what we are trying to achieve presently in the Bahamas.”

Several Boys and Girls Club executives contributed to the meeting, held at the Town Hall. Among them were Rick and Rita Case, who are in charge of the club, and executive directors Ron Cacciatore and Brian Quail.

“We learnt of numerous avenues to advance Urban Renewal in the Bahamas,” Mother Pratt said, “along with what it will take to impose positivity on youth development. Again we are grateful for the opportunity that was set up and established through various individuals, particularly Daphne Bannister from the Women Supporting Women organisation where the idea was developed to bridge organisational connection. This organisation will add more to the structure of Urban Renewal that will be beneficial to the youth throughout urban communities.”