I thought list members would be interested in this very positive story about
the creation of the Cops-N-Kids/Firefighters-N-Kids program in Minneapolis
and St. Paul. This program began thanks to the efforts of the Minneapolis
African American Professional Firefighters Association. The program was
featured on Oprah Winfrey today (June 25) and included Mayor Sayles Belton
and some of our city's firefighters and police officers. The link to the
show is included below.
Firefighters-N-Kids/Cops-N-kids book program
This May, the Cops-N-Kids/Firefighters-N-Kids program was officially
launched in Minneapolis. The program provides Minneapolis and St. Paul
firefighters and police officers with books to pass out to children from
their squad cars and rigs, as well as from fire and police stations. In
addition, the program has established reading centers in Minneapolis and St.
Paul where families can go to read with their children. Firefighters and
police officers volunteer to read to children there as well as in schools.
This program has been operating on a pilot basis since December 2000 and
exists in the Twin Cities thanks to the efforts of the Minneapolis African
American Professional Firefighters Association (MAAPFA), a volunteer
organization comprised of firefighters from that Minneapolis Fire
Department. Members of MAAPFA are committed to community service and being
positive role models to children in the community.
Gevonee Ford, NdCAD's Executive Director, had seen a piece on the Oprah
Winfrey Show about the creation of the program by the Racine, Wisconsin
police department. Ford wanted to bring the program to Twin Cities
children. The seeds for the program were sewn when an MAAPFA member, Anura
Si-Asar was invited to a NdCAD Board meeting to discuss creating the program
in the Twin Cities.
With the enthusiastic support of MAAPFA, NdCAD provided the first allotment
of books to the Association. On their own initiative, members began
distributing books at the stations and on their fire rigs. When Minneapolis
Fire Chief Rocco Forte learned of their efforts, he asked to expand the
program to every station in the City. All 19 Minneapolis Fire Department
stations are open for donations of new and gently used books. The primary
focus of the book giveaways will be in the Empowerment Zone areas of
Minneapolis such Powderhorn, Phillips, Central, Whittier and Sumner-Olson.
Through this partnership, the program was also established in the St. Paul
Fire Department, and the Minneapolis and St. Paul Police Departments.
The firefighters and police officers continue to receive books through
NdCAD, but donations from the public are also strongly encouraged.
http://www.oprah.com/uyl/angel/uyl_angel_20010625_mnbooks.html
If this link breaks, just go to oprah.com
Ann Freeman
Communications Director
Minneapolis Mayor Sharon Sayles Belton
(612) 673-2156
<<Minnesota Books.url>>
Minnesota Books.url
