The “Stop The Violence/I Got Love For You” block party held at the West Side Community Center brought concerned citizens out in support of their local NAACP in efforts to stopping the surge of violence and drugs plaguing the community.
The block party brought out fire trucks, ministers, mobile health clinic, DJ, the Monmouth County Prosecutor’s office and other organizations to show their support.
You can hear the music and smell the food as you walked down Dewitt Ave to get to the West Side Community Center. The people had the opportunity to come together and talk about what could be done or needed to bring a stop to the violence.
Asbury Park-Neptune NAACP’s 2nd Vice President, Tyseef Foster, talked about the necessity to have programs for ex-offenders so that they can find work and become productive citizens in their community.
The director of the satellite office of the Monmouth County Prosecutor’s office, Thomas Youth, wanted to make it clear they want to play a more visible role in the community to help people be able to walk the streets safely again. Mr. Youth also stated that the law enforcement needs to become more familiar with the people of the community; thus creating a comfortable atmosphere between the two. Unheard Voices was able to chat with several members of the Asbury Park/Neptune NAACP and local residents where they shared their thoughts and optimism of a brighter future for the community.
Rasheed Purvis, a local resident, talked about a local newsletter he started that focuses on issues that affects the community that mainstream media normally wouldn’t cover.
Residents also viewed the block party as a starting point of letting the people know that they do care and that visibility of the NAACP will be seen more in the future to come.
It enabled the NAACP to answer questions and gave the community a good feeling that they had an organization that is proactive in the community.
The NAACP definitely was able to get their voices heard and people took the time out to listen. Speak up and be heard!
correction: Derrick Parreot (not David Parreot)
