05/09/2007 Speaker

The speaker for our May 9, 2007 meeting was Christine Wallace, Program Manager for Disproportionate Minority Contact (DMC) Project with the Children’s Law Center of the USC School of Law. Ms. Wallace detailed that the DMC Project is designed to explore and create awareness that African-American teens disproportionately come in contact with law enforcement and juvenile justice agencies than do their Caucasian peers. The DMC Project’s goal is to disseminate factual information about this phenomenon and to work with local communities to address why this occurs. Ms. Wallace stated that although African-American youth make up only 38% of our state’s population, they account for 58% of all juvenile arrests, 60% of youth in detention and 69% of youth in correctional institutions. Alarming numbers! When looking in our own backyard of Orangeburg County, African-American youth are roughly 2.2 times more likely to be arrested than their Caucasian peers. Though seemingly high, this number is below the state average of 2.44. Ms. Wallace further indicated that one of the keys to preventing African-American involvement in the juvenile justice system was to have well-coordinated after school programs, such as The Boys & Girls Club, for youth to attend. As she stated, there is a high incidence of both poverty and single parent families in the African-American community, the after school programs play a big part in helping keep the youth in structured and nurturing environments.

As you know our own Club does support our local Boys & Girls Club and will continue to do so. Our very own George Bradley will be on the Board of the Boys & Girls Club and President-Elect Bill Carter has indicated he plans to make youth a priority for the coming Rotary year. Take time to think about what you and your business/organization can do to help with this issue.

Mike Dennis