Building good relationships with the community is one of the many ways police maintain law and order. Across the country, police athletic and activities leagues are popular and effective ways of engaging kids and police officers in helpful activities that foster healthy interaction.
One great example us the Pasadena’s Police Activities League, an after-school and summer program co-supported by the PD budget and a nonprofit booster group. This rewarding public-private partnership ensures that PAL is a well-funded program providing rich education and recreational opportunities and lots of interaction between youth advisors and police officers.
JRP recently completed a year-long board development project aimed at helping the PAL board run well as an all-volunteer organization. Tackling questions like how to grow the program to meet high demand and how to form the best relationship between a public agency and a nonprofit will go far in helping the board make sure PAL kids are safe, healthy and happy for years to come.
Melanie found herself wondering if the League accepts nonprofit EDs like herself. ‘I’d really like to go on your field trips and participate in all your recreational activities,” she says. “It’s a great program!”