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Youth Group Discourages Gang Activity

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By GEORGE H. NEWMAN

The Tampa Tribune

Published: August 27, 2008

PLANT CITY - National Night Out is an annual family event that encourages good lifestyle choices for young people, such as saying no to drugs, crime and gang activities.

In Plant City, West Plant City Boys & Girls Club, YMCA board of trustees, Plant City Police Department, Plant City Fire Rescue, Hillsborough County Sheriff's Office and other agencies combined to celebrate the good choices being made by today's youth.

Gangs In The Gutter, a local National Night Out event, offered free food and bowling for youngsters at Family Bowl, 2250 E. U.S. 92. Vice Mayor and City Commissioner Dan Raulerson opened the Aug. 5 event and read a proclamation from the city designating that date as Family Night Out Day, and recognizing the participating organizations.

West Plant City Boys & Girls Club director Sharon Moody was one of the organizers of the event that originated here in 2006. Many of the club members wore white T-shirts that read "Gangs In The Gutter," a motto the club representatives came up with after a trip to Washington.

"About 10 club members traveled to D.C. to attend a national crime seminar in the nation's capital," Moody said. "The kids wanted to make a statement about the growing crime problem in the surrounding communities. Gangs belong in the gutter because, just like in bowling, the score for a gutter ball is zero."

Moody said that the youngsters who participated want to make a difference in the community.

"These kids know about respect, discipline, honesty and giving back to the community and doing what is right," Moody said. "This kind of event also helps teach the kids social skills. They learn how to communicate with one another; learn first-hand about ethnic and cultural differences. There are differences among people. But we are all the same when you get down to it. In our hearts we are all the same; deserving of each other's respect and understanding."

About 300 youths participated in the event, which ran from 7 to 10 p.m. About half of those participating weren't club members.

Art Wood, a trustee with the Boys & Girls Club, said the night out was a big success.

"The turnout was fabulous," Wood said. "One of the things the Boys & Girls Club does so well is to provide solid role models for the members to see and interact with."

Reporter George H. Newman can be reached at (813) 865-4451 or gnewman@tampatrib.com.

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