| Garfield's DEFY Camp
Keeps Going
DEFY youth at summer camp. |
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The
Garfield Weed and Seed site located in central Phoenix, AZ,
successfully completed its 2004 Phase I summer camp on July
23.
With this camp, the Garfield Weed and Seed site has offered 8 consecutive years
of DEFY to youth in the Garfield neighborhood. Over the years, staff have seen
this program assist in the transformation of a neighborhood. According to Weed
and Seed Site Coordinator Roberto Frietz, where once the primary youth extracurricular
activity was gang involvement, more than 300 youth have been DEFY participants
and many are proud alumni of this group.
A small group of DEFY youth display one of their summer
projects. |
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The 2004 camp served approximately 40 youth and was implemented by staff from
the Arizona National Guard's Joint Counter Narcotic Task Force and
the city of Phoenix's Parks and Recreation, Police, Neighborhood Services,
and Transit Departments.
"This year's group was made up of some very intelligent
and eager young people," Frietz said. "It also
consisted of a number of youth from the same family participating
at the same time. Interestingly, for the first time girls outnumbered
boys!"
Staff say they look forward to working with this group of young leaders for
the next 9 months during Phase II of DEFY.
For more information on the DEFY program, browse FAQs
About Weed and Seed DEFY.
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