The Tribune

By RICARDO WELLS

THE Urban Renewal Commission has announced a violence workshop and a youth rally as a part of a raft of initiatives planned for National Youth Month.

Co-chairs of Urban Renewal, Algernon Allen and Cynthia “Mother” Pratt, presented the organisation’s plans yesterday, the highlights of which are an Alternative Dispute Resolution (ADR) seminar and a youth jamboree designed to empower and educate young Bahamians.

Mr Allen termed the plans for October as “one of the most important initiatives” Urban Renewal has ever undertaken. He explained that the focus of Urban Renewal has always been to improve the lives and communities of the inner city through social conscience initiatives built under the United Nations urban communities mandate.

“While intolerance has always stifled goodwill, Urban Renewal intends to stay the course and work to build up the over the hill communities,” he said.

The ADR seminar was generated by international co-ordinator, Koschina Marshall and will be a two-part event that will feature mediation expert Dr Ralph Steele from the United States and Dr Lilian Vargas from Argentina. The first aspect will be a workshop for school officials on October 8 that will layout how issues like conflict resolution should be managed within schools and social groups. The second part will take place the following day, a workshop for youths, ages 13 to 18. “As a young person myself, I wanted to find a way to empower kids from the inner city,” Ms Marshall said. “I myself am from the inner city, from East Street. These kids need more to connect to. That is what we hope to achieve with this summit and these rallies.”

“Mother” Pratt said that she is “excited” about the youth march and rally. “We are touting lives, lives of people who are downtrodden, lives that are in need. We will not stop and we will not give up. We are determined.” On October 12 the mass rally will start at three “strategic locations” that the commission believes are key points in the urban areas and conclude at Windsor Park.

“Mother” Pratt added that the Bahamas should come together at times like this to move the country forward. “When we are challenged with our youths, we need to do more across the board,” she said. “We need all non-government organisations, schools, both private and public, and all of the churches to come together.”