United Way, AnMed, Police Sponsor Anti-Drug Program Event

Two North Charleston (South Carolina) police officers at the center of an innovative program to reform would-be criminals are coming to Anderson July 25, 6:30 – 8:30 pm at the Anderson Civic Center. This event is free and open to the public.

The North Charleston officers in charge of the program, narcotics detectives: Charity Prosser, a 39-year-old mother and wife, and her partner, Jamel Foster, a Navy veteran and father of four, were featured last March on National TV news magazine Dateline. The Stop and Take A New Direction (STAND) program ushers young men through a program aimed at getting entry level drug dealers to take jobs rather than continuing to sell narcotics.

“Violence is defined as “physical force exerted for the purpose of violating, damaging, or abusing,” and sadly, violence is a part of everyday life. It’s in our movies and television shows, and we live in a world where power is often established through violence”, stated Chief Jim Stewart of the City of Anderson Police Department.  “Being involved with drugs or violence guarantees you a trip to one of three places: the hospital, prison, or the grave.  Ending violence won’t happen unless we go beyond wishful thinking. The world is full of endless opportunities and it’s our responsibility to make it a better place by making ourselves better and that starts with setting that example for our youth.  Peacemaking is active work, hard work, and frustrating work.  Safety and security in a community comes from a network of cooperation. As a realist I know we will never eliminate violence, but we can lessen it.  We are all role models at some capacity but we have a choice on whether or not we want to make a positive or negative impact on the lives of our youth” he stated. 

Sponsored by the AnMed Health, the Anderson Police Department and the United Way of Anderson County, this candid conversation with the STAND officers is part of the Upstate Movement…107 Days of Nonviolence sponsored by FM station 107.3 JAMZ. The purpose of the 107 Days Movement is to inspire youth and adults of Upstate South Carolina to collaborate, communicate and facilitate events that encourage nonviolence. 

For additional information, contact Lynn Dingle (864) 226-3438.