[Congressional Record Volume 165, Number 70 (Tuesday, April 30, 2019)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Pages E506-E507]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




            RECOGNIZING THE 30TH ANNIVERSARY OF SAFE STREETS

                                 ______
                                 

                           HON. DEREK KILMER

                             of washington

                    in the house of representatives

                        Tuesday, April 30, 2019

  Mr. KILMER. Madam Speaker, I rise today in recognition of the 30th 
anniversary of Safe Streets. Since its founding in 1989, Safe Streets 
has made a lasting and transformative impact across the many diverse 
neighborhoods and communities throughout Tacoma and Pierce County.
   Operating as a community-led grassroots effort, Safe Streets has 
thrived through a dedication to building a broad coalition of friends 
and neighbors that seek to create vibrant and flourishing neighborhoods 
across Pierce County. They are made up of interfaith leaders, business 
owners, school teachers, law enforcement, and devoted volunteers from 
the community.
   Safe Streets has organized and trained a network of 125 Neighborhood 
Groups in neighborhoods, involving over 13,500 community leaders and 
190,000 residents who work daily to ensure that their neighborhoods and 
schools are safe. Safe Streets' Community Mobilizers help these 
Neighborhood Groups define and address their own needs by utilizing 
organized block watches, youth leadership teams, graffiti removal 
teams, safe routes to school, and widespread substance abuse and 
violence prevention education initiatives.
   Safe Streets is doing significant work in adapting and evolving as 
an organization to meet the ever-changing needs and demands of its 
communities. Through the development of their Non-English Speaking 
(NES) program, Safe Streets now provides services to residents who have 
limited or no English-speaking experience. As a result, Safe Streets 
has been able to regularly connect and meet with community members from 
the Japanese, Korean, Samoan, Chinese, Philippine, and Cambodian 
communities, among others, of Pierce County.
   Safe Streets is also revered for their work in engaging, mobilizing, 
and mentoring young people across Pierce County. Many high schools in 
our communities have established Youth Leading Change (YLC) clubs that 
are made up of core students, guided by a teacher and coach, and 
supported by Safe Streets staff. Participants in YLC learn leadership 
skills and present on prevention issues to their fellow students 
throughout the year. Alumni of this program have won numerous awards on 
the state and local level, including a trip to Washington, DC in 2014 
and multiple City of Destiny Awards for Youth Leadership in the City of 
Tacoma.
   Madam Speaker, I can say with certainty that our neighborhoods and 
communities across Tacoma and Pierce County are safer because of the 
work of Safe Streets. It speaks to their tenacity that even after 30 
amazing years, the many volunteers and staff that make up this 
organization are committed to

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evolving and growing to ensure that every neighborhood in Pierce County 
is a thriving and safe place for all its residents. I wish them the 
best in this effort and pledge my commitment to supporting them however 
I can.

                          ____________________