About 200 children said a big "Boo to Drugs" Saturday as the Bovoni Weed and Seed program held a night (and day) out against drugs at the Bovoni Community Center.
The program, "Mission Possible: A Drug Free Community," was Weed and Seed's contribution to the national anti-drug Red Ribbon Week. The large auditorium was filled with children, from toddlers right through teens, playing games, eating, dancing, drumming and all sporting the bright red "Say No to Drugs" ribbons.
Program administrator Zelda Williams, in between dishing out food and fruit cups from under a large white food tent that fended off the intermittent rain, said the day was going "very well, except we lost McGruff." McGruff the Crime Dog is the big crime prevention mascot who traditionally accompanies the V.I. Police Department Crime Prevention Unit when it gives talks.
It's not known what McGruff is made of (he's not a flesh-and-blood dog), but whatever it is, he can't stand the rain.
The local Boys and Girls Club performed African dance, the V.I. Housing Authority steel band provided music early in the day, and there were presentations by Mark Joseph of the High Density Drug Trafficking Area task force and Anthony Jenkins of the U.S. Justice Department. And, naturally, no "Boo" day would be complete without a Haunted House Tour.
Jenkins also brought his African drums with him. Brand-new to the island, the assistant U.S. attorney didn't miss a beat getting into the community. He moved here from Florida but said he has deep Caribbean connections, as his grandparents were from St. Kitts.
Jenkins displayed his drums and encouraged the children to try them out — which took no urging. He is in the process of starting an African dance and drum class for the program.
"I want to keep them doing something positive," Jenkins said. "I'm a product of the projects and welfare, and they need something to get their attention, something good." The drums had their attention-the kids couldn't keep away from them.
Weed and Seed started earlier this year and already has an impressive track record. A summer school program drew about 160 children from 6 to 18 years old and taught everything from steel drums to a "SeedTech" computer class.
The instruction is year-round and, in conjunction with the Department of Education, provides free weekly classes to achieve a G.E.D. certificate, a high school equivalency diploma. The diverse activities include a Young Astronaut Chapter that focuses on space-themed scientific studies, a Partners in Parenting program and dive certification.
Weed and Seed is a multi-agency strategy with the goal of weeding out crime and seeding neighborhoods with economic revitalization. For further information, contact Williams or Petra Phipps, assistant program administrator, at 714-0812.
