High Point Community Against Violence
Making High Point safer for everyone
HPCAV congratulates Curtis Cheeks on his new role as High Point’s Chief of Police. We are fortunate to have an already good working relationship with our new chief, as he has been a part of High Point’s long standing efforts to reduce violent crime through focused deterrence. We appreciate his dedication to his city and to working WITH the community to make High Point safer for everyone. We also appreciate his sense of humor. Best wishes for great success, Chief Cheeks.
High Point continues to grow and HPCAV participates in a variety of community events, consistently presenting our message and inviting everyone to be a part of making High Point safer.
This fall, we had the privilege of talking with Representative Kathy Manning, U.S. House, about gun violence in our area. Chief Stroud, HPCAV members and representatives of other youth-serving organizations participated.
The City’s annual Trunk or Treat event and High Point Police Department’s Community Day brought hundreds of families by our booth, enabling us to share our message with lots of new people.
Most recently we were honored to be a part of a gun violence panel held by the student chapter of the NAACP on High Point University’s campus. It was an evening of thoughtful and hopeful conversation with some of our future leaders.
This summer, HPCAV was very fortunate to have Peak Adventure Ministries’ High Point area youth in our building. These middle and high school youth scraped and painted our big meeting room. And it is a really big room. They did great work and it was wonderful to have young people around. For several (maybe most) it was their first real experience with a paint brush. Extra thanks to George Steele, Jr. who shepherds this team. (top photo below, far left)
We look forward to more partnering with Peak Adventure Ministries as we collaborate to reach youth throughout High Point. The goal? Reduce violent crime committed by young people. It’s a great group with a great mission: PEAK Adventure Ministries
Supporters of HPCAV and Tiny Houses Community Development gathered Saturday morning, May 13, to dedicate a garden shed in memory of HPCAV’s much loved board member and active supporter, Linda Faircloth. The dedication was part of the celebration of the opening of this Tiny House community in High Point, designed to provide safe housing for some of our veterans and homeless neighbors.
Linda was a much-loved and respected realtor in High Point. She was a long time member of HPCAV, serving on our board and participating in call-ins, neighborhood responses and other programs. When Ed Kimsey started the Life Construction Program, Linda was one of the first clients to hire our team to do some work at her home.
Over 10 years later, it was a Life Construction Program team that built this garden shed in her honor, painting it in some of her favorite colors. We are grateful to Scott Jones, the Tiny Houses Executive Director, and the City of High Point for working with us to make this possible. And we are grateful to Linda’s family, husband John and daughters Tammy, Laura and Catherine, for sharing her with us for so many years.
The shed already houses garden tools and the beds are full of strawberries, tomatoes, peppers and squash, ready for the residents who live here and their neighbors.
Each month, the High Point Police Department updates the community on the past month’s activities at the open meeting of High Point Community Against Violence. This information includes overall crime rates as well as activity in specific types of crimes, such as aggravated assaults and burglaries. Key arrests and any federal or state convictions are shared. This meeting allows anyone in attendance to ask questions as well.
These statistics are then shared on the Numbers page of this website.
If you are interested in attending, the open meetings are held the second Wednesday of every month, beginning at 8:30 a.m. at the High Point Police Department, 1730 Westchester Drive, High Point.
HPCAV participated in our first Trunk or Treat at the Halloween Spooky Hoopla on Saturday, October 15 at the High Point Athletic Complex. Tim Ilderton of Ilderton Dodge loaned us a pickup truck to display our sign. Comfortable chairs, handouts and plenty of candy were all we needed to engage with everyone who stopped by. We ran out of candy, but not out of words! Working together, community partners and individuals, we can reduce violence in High Point.
Crime Stoppers of High Point is beginning a new program that targets felons who are carrying illegal firearms. Anyone who reports information leading to the arrest of a felon in possession of a gun could earn $500. This effort is based on a successful program by the Charlotte-Mecklenburg Police Department.
Tips can be made by calling Crime Stoppers at 336-889-4000 or downloading the P3 Tips mobile
app. Tips are always anonymous.
It’s another way our residents can help law enforcement make High Point safer for everyone.
HPCAV received funding through the Greater High Point Food Alliance in April and we are using the money to pay some of our clients to work in area food pantries. Our clients are unpacking trucks, moving and shelving food items. This unusual collaborative effort provides an employment opportunity for our clients and involves them in serving the greater High Point community. Area food pantries have helped our clients over the years and this is a unique way for them to “give back”.
You’ve got a criminal record. No one wants to hire you. You REALLY need a job. What can you do?
Two options worth looking at are: Jobs on the Outside through Goodwill Industries and the Welfare Reform Liaison Project‘s free employment training.
Jobs on the Outside is a free, comprehensive program that helps people with criminal backgrounds successfully get a job and keep a job. You have to be at least 16 years old, have a criminal background and attend an orientation meeting. Call 336-275-9801 or check out Triad Goodwill for details.
Welfare Reform Liaison Project, Inc. (WRLP) offers free employment training for people with or without a criminal record, including Construction Skills Training and Technology Training. You have to be at least 18 years old, have a high school diploma or GED (they can help if you don’t!), live in Guilford County and be at or below 125% of poverty level (they’ll figure that out for you). Call 336-882-4141, extension 8515 in High Point. Get more information on their website.
