Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1953-12-29
Fourth Group
Named 10 Aid
Youth Program
Area Committee
Will Enlist Gangs
In Southeast Section
By Miriom Ottenberq

oy Mirlom gutenberg
The city's fourth and newest
area committee formed under
the Commissioners Youth Coun-
Gil is going after the gangs to
get them working for. instead Of
against. their community.
The new committee is in Area
v of the councils Is areas. It
will operate east of the Anacos-
tia River between Good Hope
road Sc. and st. Elizabeth's
Hospital.
Miss Winifred Thompson. the
councils staff aide. in announc-
ing the councils approval of the
Area v committee membership.
said it's action plan also has been
approved. She said the COM
mittee was formed mostly from
the Anacostia Co-ordinating
Committee, one of the first
groups to register with the
council.
Based on NeighbOrhoOd Groups.
AS far as possible, the council
is building its area committees
on neighborhood groups already
organized. and is encouraging
them to develop their programs
to meet the needs of their re-
Spective areas.
This is the plan of this all
colored Anacostia group:
Cash prizes will be awarded
every six months to youth
groups which have done the
most in the way of community
and individual improvement and
cooperation with officials and
community leaders. The prizes.
it was emphasized, will go not
to such approved groups as Hi-Y
clubs and student leaders but.
to the ones the committee is
trying to reach-the gang
types"
A roster of gang-type clubs
is being made up. and their
leaders will be brought together
to hear an explanation of the
committees program and prize
offers to see if activities of the
gangs can be harnessed along
more acceptable lines.
Several churches in the area
already have been approached
and have offered their base
mentS or other rooms for teen
age activities.
To Encourage Participation.
The committee plans to en-
courage young people to par
ticipate in the churches. youth
centers and civic groups, and
to develop programs especially
for them. The community will
be kept informed of it's plans
through mass meetings and
posters.
Businessmen along Nichols
avenue have been solicited for
prize money in the youth pro-
gram. Miss Thompson said she
was told they already have con-
tributed 5000.
A theater owner has been APP
preached to see if he will agree
to admit free the children found
on the streets who want to go to
the movies but haven't any
money.
The Rev. S. Everette Guiles.
minister of the Campbell A. M. E.,
Church. member of the area
committee. has formed a foot
ball team and helped its mem
bers raise money for football
equipment.
Miss Thompson explained that
the areas principal problem has
been lack or recreation facilities
to keep up with the fast expan-
sion OF housing developments.
Giving groups something to do
and a place to do it, therefore.
is being emphasized in the area.
Committee Members Listed.
The area committee includes:
Stan Anderson, recreation di-
rector Of Barry Farms center:
Edward j. Edwards. jr., principal
of Garf1eld-Turner Schools; Mrs.
Alice Bell Finlayson, principal of
Birney School; Mrs. Ella R. Fos-
ter. president of Garfield-Doug-
las Heights Civic Association;
Mrs. Martha Frazier, president
OF Birney PTA; Mrs. Edna E.
Gordon, president of Turner
PTA; the Rev. Guiles, Mrs. Flor
ence Mathews. regional director
of D. c. Recreation Department;
Walter A. Patterson. business
man, 1875 Savannah place Sc:
Harry E. Polk, director of Police
Boys Club No. 10; DR.. Charles
E. Qualls. president of Anacostia
Co-ordinating Committee: Will
liam E. Reid, assistant superin-
tendent of the Industrial Home
School; Police Pvt. Rufus D.
Scollick, C. G. Southall, presi-
dent of Hillsdale Civic Associa-
ton, and Willie G. Sumlar, BUSH
neSSman, 2107 Alabama avenue