- GTA Faith Alliance
The
GTA Faith Alliance was founded in February 2003 as a joint effort of about 40 religious leadersWelsh, Moria, "Faith in ending violence; 'We are not going to sit back and let 2006 become like 2005'; City's church leaders pray, then announce extensive plan Response to gangs includes 400 mentors for at-risk youth", "Toronto Star", January 3, 2006] Fowlie, Jonathan, "No more bodies on our streets", "Globe and Mail", April 3, 2004] focussing on the issue of youth violence, particularly involving gangs and guns. Its chairperson is Reverend Don Meredith. [http://www.canurb.com/awards/ula/leadershipawards2006.php Award Recipients - Urban Leadership Awards 2006] , Canadian Urban Institute] Whittington, Les, "Harper calls 4 by-elections for March 17; Two former Liberal leadership candidates Rae and Hall Findlay to run in Toronto ridings", "Toronto Star", December 22, 2007]The Alliance has modelled its activities on the work of Reverend
Eugene Rivers of Boston who has utilized a corps of pastors to who have worked to create alternatives to street gangs for disadvantaged Black youths.Fowlie, Jonathan, "No more bodies on our streets", "Globe and Mail", April 3, 2004] The Alliance brought Rivers to Toronto in early 2006 to meet with police and community leaders in an attempt to replicate the "Boston Miracle" in Toronto. [ [http://toronto.ctv.ca/servlet/an/local/CTVNews/20060110/eugene_rigers_060111?hub=TorontoHome "Minister says city's black community must unite"] , "CTV News", January 11, 2006] As a result, the Alliance launched a program to recruit 400 mentors who would lead 70 youth oriented after-school programs in churches across the city in an attempt to divert at-risk youth from gangs and crime.Welsh, Moria, "Faith in ending violence; 'We are not going to sit back and let 2006 become like 2005'; City's church leaders pray, then announce extensive plan Response to gangs includes 400 mentors for at-risk youth", "Toronto Star", January 3, 2006]References
External links
* [http://gtafaithalliance.com/home.aspx GTA Faith Alliance] official site
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