Building Safer Communities, Transforming Lives in Clarendon

Building Safer Communities, Transforming Lives in Clarendon YouTube Replay Link:

🎥 Watch the Full Discussion

When community voices lead the conversation, real progress happens. In our May edition of SRC’s Community Corner Live Forum, the spotlight shone on two impactful initiatives making waves across Clarendon: the NUH GVD (Gangs, Violence, Drugs) School Tour and the powerful work of Project STAR.

Hosted by Serenity Resource Connector, the session brought clarity to how collaborative action across police, civic bodies, and local organisations is creating a meaningful shift in youth engagement, crime prevention, and social renewal.

Clarendon Police Division: Tackling Crime from the Classroom

Sergeant Leroy Chambers of the Community Safety and Security Branch (CSSB), Clarendon, shared firsthand insight into why schools are key in preventing violence before it starts.

Why Start with Schools?

• Young people are increasingly pulled into gangs and drug activity.

• The NUH GVD School Tour was launched to meet them where they are - in classrooms, on their turf, using language and visuals they relate to.

What’s Working:

• Interactive sessions breaking down the consequences of crime.

• Reinforcement of positive alternatives like joining Police Youth Clubs.

• Focus on building trust between youth and law enforcement.

“If we don’t catch them early, we risk losing them later,” said Sergeant Chambers.

Project STAR: Transforming Communities from the Inside Out

Project STAR, a partnership between the Private Sector Organisation of Jamaica and the JCF, is not just doing outreach, it’s co-designing community change with residents.

Their mission is clear: address the root causes of violence and create opportunities for young people.

Focus Areas:

• Unemployment, poor parenting, and substance abuse

• Weak community structures and lack of positive role models

Practical Solutions in Motion:

• Parenting programmes to rebuild family foundations

• Job-readiness and mentorship with 50%+ placement success

• Nano-grants to support small business ideas

• Creation of Community Hubs offering banking, mental health, and career services - all in one place

“This isn’t about handouts. It’s about mindset change and ownership,” said Romel.

Building Safer Communities in Clarendon:

Real Partnerships, Real Impact

The combined efforts of the Clarendon Police Division, Project STAR, and partners like Restorative Justice, CPFSA, Child Diversion, and the National Council on Drug Abuse are setting a national example.

By using:

• Role-play and real-life scenarios in schools

• Data-driven interventions

• Cross-agency partnerships

They are not just raising awareness, they’re changing behaviour.

Community Voices Matter

The forum wrapped up with powerful closing thoughts from the panellists:

Romel Gordon:

• Encouraged residents to see the issues as “our problem” and to bring their own solutions to the table.

• Invited community members to visit Project STAR’s office or email to collaborate directly.

Sharise Staines-Appleby:

• Called on individuals and agencies to bring their resources, voices, and ideas forward.

• Reminded us all that no one group can do this alone.

Sergeant Chambers:

• Reinforced the message behind their slogan: “Gang is a dead end. Badness a madness. Gang life equals no life.”

• Urged citizens to report concerns before crime reaches their doorsteps.

Replay & Recap Resources

📺 Watch the full forum replay here:👉 Click to Watch on YouTube

📩 Missed a past forum? Visit our SRC Blog Recap Archive for all forums.

📌 Next Forum: Join us Tuesday at 8 PM for A Child Rights Series 2025 with the Early Childhood Commission.

Get Involved

Community transformation needs all hands on deck.

✔️ Join a Police Youth Club

✔️ Start a neighbourhood watch

✔️ Mentor someone

✔️ Share this link with a friend who needs to see it

✔️ Visit https://www.projectstarja.com/ to learn more

Know someone who would benefit from these initiatives? Share this blog post. Change starts with one conversation.

Summer Work Opportunity

Please share the following flyers with your youth groups and business colleagues:

BECOME A PLACEMENT PARTNER

DEADLINE EXTENDED TO MAY 30, 2025

Acknowledgements

Special thanks to:

• Clarendon Police Division (CSSB)

• Project STAR (Clarendon Team)

• Our viewers, partners, and residents committed to safer communities

Together, we’re shaping a Jamaica where young people can thrive, not just survive.