RETURN TO CURRENT ISSUE

WICHITA, KANSAS--"Looking back, letting go, and moving forward" was the theme of a forum the youth of Hope Street Development hosted for young people and neighborhood community police officers held in Wichita in June.

About 30 youth, 6 police officers including Wichita's chief of police and 10 interested adults came to the meeting, which grew out of a partnership formed almost a year ago, to define barriers, strategize solutions and work on action steps.

Negative profiling, racism and prejudices, unfounded police stops of youth and the lack of equality were some of the barriers youth defined at the meeting. On the other hand, the police officers expressed concern about youth not being honest with their identities, running from the police and some youths' passive responses during investigations. Both parties agreed that lack of communication, lack of respect, and bad attitudes are problems they see with each group.

The building force that night between youth and police officers was overwhelming as the parties "looked back" and began to "let go." Both parties understand the importance to "move forward," which resulted in the youth setting up a meeting with the chief of police and their community police sergeant to write action steps from information gathered through the forum.