By Leslie Collins
Northeast News
August 1, 2012

Several organizations are hoping to spread peace throughout Northeast through the Community Crime Prevention Showcase, which will be held Aug. 11.

“What we try to do is bring some hope, bring some churches together to try to help the community out and bring awesome community resources,” said Vennie Gonzalez, president of ACTS (All Christians Together Serving) Ministry.

It’s been five years since the last crime prevention showcase came to Historic Northeast.

This year, a number of community partners are working together to host the event, including ACTS Ministry, area churches, Hope Faith Ministries, Kansas City Police Department, Kansas City Fire Department and Samuel U. Rogers Health Center.

Asked why he wanted to host an event in Northeast, Gonzalez said, “My heart’s still in Northeast. I went to school there and graduated there.”

Everything at the event will be free, including refreshments and the live entertainment.

The Community Crime Prevention Showcase will be held at the Northeast Middle School soccer fields, 4904 E. Independence Ave., from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. Aug. 11.

Activities will include live bands, special speakers, horse rides, bounce houses, carnival games, among other activities. In between each band, ministers from area churches will speak, encouraging the community to be positive influences.

A number of music genres will be represented including rap, rhythm and blues, gospel and latin.

Samuel Rogers will provide free health screenings to check blood pressure, glucose levels, among others.

In addition, the event will include a garage sale and school supplies, both free. Supplies are limited on a first come, first served basis.

Joey Condon, pastor of Grace Church of the Nazarene in Northeast, said event volunteers are organizing the school supplies by grades and have matched up the supplies with lists from Kansas City Public Schools.

Garage sale items will include clothes, lamps, kitchenware and anything else one would normally find at a garage sale.

“If you can use it, it’s yours,” Condon said.

People and organizations from around the metro have been donating school supplies and garage sale items, Condon said. Donations are still being accepted and to donate, contact Gonzalez, (816) 918-5935.

“I think we can make a huge impact on the attitude and psyche in the neighborhood,” Gonzalez said. “This is an opportunity for people to get to know each other, hang out and have a good time.”