The Palm Beach County Criminal Justice Commission’s Weed and Seed project recently won two awards at the National Community Capacity Development Office’s (CCDO) national conference in Tampa. CCDO, part of the U.S. Department of Justice, was created to strengthen vulnerable communities by promoting economic growth and enhancing the quality of life for residents.
The Weed and Seed program is the county’s initiative to fight crime, formed more than 17 years ago. The program is now operated in Riviera Beach, West Palm Beach, Delray Beach, Belle Glade, and Gramercy Park.
At the CCDO national conference, Jazlyn Lovely, 8, a second-grader at Washington Elementary School in Riviera Beach, won the National Poster Contest in the 10-and-under age group. She has been attending the Riviera Beach Weed and Seed Youth Enrichment After School Program for three years. “Jazlyn is a talented young girl whose artistic and scholastic abilities know no boundaries,” Program Coordinator Inda Spencer said.
In other awards, Delray Beach Weed and Seed won the Length of Service Award for its participation in the Drug Education for Youth (DEFY) program. The DEFY program is a prevention program for children ages 9 to 12. It utilizes a military model in promoting positive life choices to reduce the demand of illegal drugs.
Delray Beach has been involved by participating and sponsoring youth at the DEFY Camp for ten years. Detective Terrance Scott of the Delray Beach Police Department has participated for 10 years and accepted the award on behalf of Weed and Seed, along with the Program Manager Cerina Anderson.
“Detective Scott and the DEFY Program represent the best in law enforcement and crime prevention. This camp is changing the lives of young people encouraging them to adopt healthy lifestyles,” said Criminal Justice Commission Board member and incoming Chairwoman, Barbara Cheives.
There are more than 300 Weed and Seed sites throughout the United Statessss and its territories. For more information about Weed and Seed in Palm Beach County contact Rosalind Murray at 561-355-2332.
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