One way to fight crime is by keeping kids off the streets and involved in positive activities.
The Latin American Cultural Center of Queens (LACCQ) has been doing just that and for their efforts Congressmember Joseph Crowley presented the organization with a check for $5,000 to support its ongoing educational and anti-crime programming.
“This is a youth program that gives kids the opportunity to gain skills, to gain self-confidence, to stay out of harms way and to make better choices,” Crowley said, adding that funding came from the crime portion of the appropriations bill.
Founded in 1993, the LACCQ provides a variety of programs to serve not only the Hispanic community in Queens but to build bridges with people from other ethnic backgrounds. However, in just one year, their budget has been cut by about 60 percent.
“Five [thousand] here and five [thousand] there helps,” said Nayibe Nuñez-Berger, president of the Board of Directors.
In addition to running two afterschool programs with about 50 students, the organization has a family program where they give parents ideas for affordable weekend family outings.
Youngster Mateo Hernandez, 9, a fourth grader at P.S. 69, explained that “our club is really great.”
“It puts you to do something fun and productive,” he said, showing off his anime drawing. “It boosts your self-esteem and makes you feel important.”
While at the event, Crowley answered questions about the status of the immigration reform bill, which was recently introduced in the House.
Crowley said that despite the current national security concerns and though it may look like a lot of other issues could get in the way, 92 representatives have signed on as cosponsors of the Comprehensive Immigration Reform Bill.
“From a national security point of view, we need to know who is in the country and we need to get them to come out of the shadows,” he said, noting that they need the political will in election year to get this done. He added there is a small window of time between the middle of March and beginning of April. “I think we can walk and chew gum as the same time.”
