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Community Corner

Summer Night Lights Shine on Highland Park

The program has been implemented in the Highland Park community for a second season.

Walk past the after the lights have been turned off and you’ll notice the beige building sitting in the shadows.

The community facility is usually dimly lit during the night, but thanks to the Summer Night Lights program, its operating hours will be extended until midnight four nights per week, keeping the lights on a little bit longer.

“We worked very hard to get it to Highland Park because it wasn’t with us the first two years of the program,” said Stan Moore, a member of the . “Last year they added Highland Park and this year we lobbied extensively once the city council started thinking they might cancel the whole program. We started calling people and lobbying. In the end they kept the program and we got it for a second year."

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According to a press release from Los Angeles Mayor Antonio Villaraigosa, Summer Night Lights (SNL) is a community based violence reduction initiative which not only keeps city parks open after dark, but also offers organized activities and family programs.

The program creates 10 jobs at each community facility participating in SNL for at-risk youth between the ages of 17 and 20 years old, who are better known as the Youth Squad.

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Youth Squad members also receive training prior to the start of SNL in areas such as communication, community outreach and life skills.

“Expanding Summer Night Lights into more neighborhoods in Los Angeles widens the program’s reach to keep even more at-risk youth busy during the long, restless summer nights when the cycle of violence traditionally escalates,” Villaraigosa said in the release.

SNL, currently in its third year of existence, added nine new parks and recreation centers to the program bringing its total to 32 for the 2011 season.

Coordinator Ismael Flores said the fun begins with a complementary meal. Free food is served from 7 . until 9 p.m. each night of the program.

“We have basketball and softball games going on, indoor and outdoor soccer, music, entertainment, and a skate park. In addition to that, we also have family dodgeball and family kickball games,” Flores said.

Flores said the center also hosts a movie night once per week, yet there is no designated night. He also said there will be a handful of guest speakers and seminars, including a college night that features first generation college students from Highland Park, who will share their experience in the higher education system with current youth.

“We’re actually working on a schedule right now for all these activities, so that families and the public can be informed of the exact dates and times specific activities will be taking place,” Flores said.

Four different boys basketball divisions and two girls softball divisions are offered at the center. Ages range by division from 9 years old up to adults.

The basketball teams run full court games Wednesday through Friday, while the softball teams play under the lights on Wednesdays and Fridays.

“So far I like what I see from the kids. The ones that are usually out on the streets can now be seen hanging out here at the park. It keeps them out of trouble,” said Jose Ramos, a first-year head coach in the 15-17 year old basketball division.

Neighborhoods in areas surrounding SNL sites saw a 40 percent decrease in gang-related part 1 crimes and a 57 percent reduction in
gang-related homicides last summer, according to Villaraigosa's press release.

The SNL program is sponsored by the mayor’s office, however, it is funded by a combination of public and private funds, according to the press release.

“There’s usually nothing to do during the summer when the park and recreation center closes early,” said second year SNL participant Devina Redhouse, who plays for the Misfits softball team.

SNL kicked off this year on July 6 and takes place from 7 p.m. until midnight, Wednesday through Saturday. The program will go on until Sept 3.

Redhouse said, “Now we have a chance to come out, stay until midnight and have fun out here.”

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