The West Flat Citizens Group is asking the city of P.A. to consider leasing them the former Boy Scouts Hall off 13th St. West. (Alison Sandstrom/paNOW Staff)

By Alison Sandstrom

Searching for a home

Anti-gang program seeks base

Jan 11, 2020 | 8:00 AM

A new anti-gang initiative is looking for a space to call home.

The provincially-funded program will offer services and supports to reintegrate former gang-members into their communities. In Prince Albert it’s being run by STR8 Up in partnership with the West Flat Citizens Group and P.A. Outreach.

West Flat Citizens Group Executive Director Dawn Robins wants to get the program started as soon as possible but is looking for a building to house its operations.

“Our dream space would be three or four offices, a waiting area or sort of a coffee area, and then a cultural space so that we can hold our circles and our teachings in a safe, sacred area,” she told paNOW.

Robins is asking the city for an in-kind or low-cost space to lease. She has suggested the former Boy Scouts Hall as the ideal location because of its proximity to the Bernice Sayese Center, the base for the West Flat Citizens Group’s other programming.

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“We’ve been working at this for 13 years. We have programs within the Bernice Sayese Center that identify us as the place to reach out to when someone’s on parole or they’re getting out into the community,” she explained.

“But because we run a daycare and things like that and work with children and youth here, we need a separate office space [for the gang strategy.]”

She added that having a designated space is also important for creating a sense of pride in participants.

“We’re trying to build up their self-esteem. We’re trying to build them up. And having a nice environment and safe surroundings will be one step closer to making them successful,” she said.

Robins’ request for a space will be received by city council at their meeting on Monday, where it will likely be forwarded to the Community Services Department for further consideration.

The province has committed funding to the gang strategy for four years.

Robins emphasized that participants must no longer be involved in a gang, and the community shouldn’t be apprehensive about the program coming to the area.

“I don’t want people to be scared about an office opening up. These are people that are already in our neighborhood,” she said.

“So if we’re working with 57 people and we’re walking alongside them for four years to make sure that they’re successful that’s the best thing that could happen to this community.”

In the 16 years she’s spent working at the Bernice Sayese Center, Robins said she’s seen the far-reaching impact community supported programs like the gang strategy can have.

“It’s the generational impact with their children, and their grandchildren,” she said.

“It really makes a difference in a community when you look at the big picture.”

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alison.sandstrom@jpbg.ca

On Twitter: @alisandstrom