HPCAV Donor Recognized

On October 16, 2014, the office of the United States Attorney, Middle District of North Carolina, recognized Mr. Zaki Khalifa for the donation of the building at 792 North Main Street in High Point for use by High Point Community Against Violence, Inc. (HPCAV).

The presentation was made on behalf of Ripley Rand, U.S. Attorney by Rob Lang, Assistant U.S. Attorney and original member of High Point’s crime reduction strategy task force.  “Thank you for the example you set,” said Lang as he reflected on what the building has meant to High Point’s efforts to reduce violent crime.

In sharing a bit about why he donated the building, Mr. Khalif stated that as a result of some introspection, he had asked himself, “Is there something I can do to prevent crime by someone else?  It was in that spirit that I donated the building.”

Mr. Khalifa is a widely respected and long time resident of High Point.  He is well known as the founder and owner of Zaki Oriental Rugs and has been active in many community efforts.

The building provides HPCAV with permanent office space and serves as as a location for related prevention and intervention programs.  Included is the Life Construction Program that teaches construction skills and provides hands on learning opportunities in a workshop in the back of the building.

 

Domestic Violence Initiative Showing Results

One thousand fewer calls.  Since fully implementing the Offender Focused Domestic Violence Initiative just two years ago, High Point Police Department reports receiving 1000 fewer calls asking for a response to domestic violence incidents.  This is good news for High Point families and for our community as a whole.

Cities across our nation continue to consult with High Point and to implement this Initiative in their jurisdictions.  Roanoke, Virginia; Chula Vista, California; and East Baton Rouge, Louisiana to name a few.

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Thank You, Wendelta.

THANK YOU to Wendelta, Inc. which recently gave a multi-function copy machine to HPCAV.   This gift makes it easier for our staff and volunteers to function efficiently.  We are very grateful for this donation!

The machine was picked up and then set up in our office by a participant in the Life Construction Program, providing another opportunity to put his skills to work.

Together, we ARE making High Point a safer place for everyone!

 

HPCAV Receives United Way Venture Grant

UW_HPlogo2_4color- web smallHigh Point Community Against Violence (HPCAV) was awarded $8250 through the United Way of Greater High Point Venture Grant Program on June 24, 2014.  Thirty-four organizations applied and HPCAV was one of eight to receive funding.  Jim Summey, Executive Director and Ed Kimsey, creator of the Life Construction Program accepted the award.  The funding will be used in the Life Construction Program to assist with materials costs as well as pay participants a stipend for their work.

The Life Construction Program (LCP) teaches participants marketable construction-related skills while helping them develop a stronger work ethic, improve their decision making skills and provide on-going support as they work to change the direction of their lives.  The Program has built and installed custom cabinetry for a number of customers and upfitted a local tattoo parlor, again providing custom built cabinetry in addition to electrical and painting work.  The Carpentry Training Program (a part of LCP) also works with Community Development & Housing, City of High Point to provide home repairs to needy residents.

For more information about the Life Construction Program, contact HPCAV.

For more information about the Venture Grant Program, contact the United Way of Greater High Point.

HPU Communications Class Creates Marketing Campaigns

Earlier this year, HPCAV was chosen by the High Point University (HPU) Communications 4415 class, under the leadership of Dr. Sojung Claire Kim, as the focus of their semester’s work.  The result?  Four outstanding marketing campaigns, designed by a team of students from this class, and presented to HPCAV representatives in early May.

The R.H.O.C.K. Advertising team campaign was selected as the winner, but each campaign had ideas and strategies that could be implemented.  Included were changes to the HPCAV logo, new taglines, fundraising ideas and more and different use of social media.

What really captured HPCAV representatives’ attention was how well all the students understood the history and the goals of our organization.  Their research — conversations with Executive Director, Jim Summey, reviewing the website, attending a call-in, conducting public surveys — informed their campaign creation.  But their understanding of how communities and individuals want to be safe and the importance of building relationships drove their enthusiasm for their work.

Read more about this exciting project with High Point University and be on the lookout for changes to come!

Victim’s Justice Center Opens

High Point dedicated its first Victim’s Justice Center on Wednesday, April 2.  The Center was opened specifically to streamline services for domestic violence victims.  It is a one-stop site for victims, with police and a Legal Aid attorney on hand to guide them through the process of seeking a protective order and securing other services.

Major Ken Schultz

Major Ken Schultz

“We think that this is going to be an opportunity to break that cycle of violence,” said High Point police Major Ken Schultz.

The police department is partnering with other agencies to operate the center, including Legal Aid of North Carolina and Family Services of the Piedmont.  The Center is located within the High Point Center for Children & Families, an initiative of the University of North Carolina at Greensboro that offers intervention programs for children and parents, coached parent-child Department of Social Services visitation, and parent education.

The Victim’s Justice Center is partially an outgrowth of the police department and High Point Community Against Violence’s Offender Focused Domestic Violence Initiative that began in April 2012.  This Initiative works to prevent potential and known abusers from victimizing their intimate partner.  In the two years since its inception, the Initiative has led to fewer assaults and fewer domestic disturbance calls.  Recidivism rates among offenders are about nine (9) percent in High Point, compared to the national average of about 30 percent.  High Point has also seen a reduction in the number of domestic homicides involving intimate partners.  There were 17 killings in the city between 2004 and 2008.  Since then, there has one been one.

Ms. Millis, Lt. Tim Ellenberger

Ms. Millis, Lt. Tim Ellenberger

The Center is being funded the first year through grants from the Millis family.  In the future, additional grants will be sought and the Center may organize as a nonprofit, to enhance future fundraising efforts.

The Victim’s Justice Center and the High Point Center for Children & Families are located in the Southside Recreation Center at 401 Taylor Avenue in High Point.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Summey Named Senior Fellow

Jim Summey, D. D., Executive Director of High Point Community Against Violence, Inc. has been named a Senior Fellow in the Justice Programs Office (JPO) of the School of Public Affairs at American University.  Senior Fellows provide multi-disciplinary and multi-jurisdictional perspectives to help guide justice system initiatives.  Summey was invited because of his work with the violence reduction efforts here in High Point.

“This is an exciting time to work in the justice field and your perspective and experience will greatly enrich our work,” wrote Caroline S. Cooper, Director of the Justice Programs Office at American University in the invitation.

Summey began working as a volunteer with HPCAV while he was the Minister at English Road Baptist Church in High Point.  He became Executive Director in 2009.

For more information about the Justice Programs Office and Senior Fellow Program, visit the American University website.


 

Boogie Nights Benefit

There’s  nothing like a FUN fundraising event!  Mark Tuttle, DJ and owner of Boogie Nights, a mobile DJ service knows exactly how to do it.A very popular area DJ, Tuttle and some other volunteers secured donations for a silent auction, set up some refreshments, cleared out a space for the dance floor and invited everyone they knew to come shag and line dance the night away.  When the music stopped and the dust settled, they had raised $1300 for HPCAV!  All because they support the work being done to make High Point and the Triad area a safer place for everyone.

Tuttle is his own “special event”.  In addition to providing music, he also teaches shag and line dancing.  His company, Boogie Nights, has been using the HPCAV office to teach classes on Tuesday nights for several months.  Tuttle, along with the students, have learned a lot about HPCAV and its work in the community.  They liked what they saw and heard and decided to get involved.  Every part of this event was handled by their group – a major gift in itself.

THANK YOU Mark Tuttle, friends and students!

 

High Point Enterprise Article

Thanks to Pat Kimbrough with the High Point Enterprise for his well-written article on our Domestic Violence Initiative:  Stopping the cycle of domestic abuse.  This is a great way to learn what we are doing and how it is working, successfully, in High Point!