FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE Contact: Rory Casey 322-5510 [email protected] Date: August 4, 2014 Mayor Morse Announces New Blight Reduction Initiative with Roca Holyoke MA - Today, Mayor Alex Morse announced a new blight reduction initiative with Roca, an organization whose mission is to help disenfranchised young people move out of lives of poverty and violence. This initiative is part of Mayor Morses larger effort to reduce blight in the city. Founded in 1988, Roca is an outcomes-driven organization dedicated to transforming the lives of the most high-risk young people ages 17-24 (street, court, and gang-involved; drop-outs; young parents; refugees; and, immigrants). Roca combines relentless outreach with data-driven evaluation to produce consistent, positive outcomes for young people across Massachusetts. With its proactive approach to helping troubled young people, Roca has had unparalleled success at redirecting young people from lives of violence toward lives of meaningful participation in society. In addition to changing the course of young peoples lives, Roca reduces incarceration costs for the government by providing an alternate, rehabilitative option for young people. Under a new agreement with the City of Holyoke, Roca will now provide its services to Holyokers between the ages of 17-24. These young Holyokers will assist in the citys larger blight reduction effort. They will work with Holyokes Department of Public Works to clean up trash on the street, to beautify gateways to the city, and to assist in special projects. “We are both excited and honored to work with young people and the Mayor’s Office in Holyoke. We look forward to working in partnership with many great organizations to help young men change their lives and participate positively in the community, said Roca in a statement. Members of this Roca program will be doing the work that the DPW currently lacks the time and/or resources to do on its own. Throughout the whole process, these young people will learn valuable life skills for becoming productive members of the community. I am proud to announce the citys new partnership with Roca. Reducing blight is a major priority is a major priority of my administration, because I believe the City of Holyoke should always present itself well; reducing blight sends a message that we are serious about taking care of our community.With Rocas work in our community, I am sure our residents will see and feel the improved quality of life. But todays announcement is about more than our blight reduction efforts. Todays announcement is about our efforts to reclaim disengaged members of our community. Holyoke cant afford to lose its young people to violence and poverty. Our young people deserve better. Too many of these young folks, through no fault of their own, wound up in a difficult situation in their lives. A lot of these kids were greatly disadvantaged from the start. As a community, we must recognize that we rise or fall together, and that everyone deserves a chance at a meaningful life. Thats why Rocas work is so important, and thats why Im honored to announce this initiative, Mayor Morse said. The citys partnership with Roca is expected to last through at least the next year.
Posted on: Mon, 04 Aug 2014 17:29:11 +0000
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