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The mission of San Antonio Fighting Back, Inc. is to
provide partnerships, collaborations and direct services to create safe,
healthy and caring communities by addressing the root causes and symptoms
of drug related crime, substance abuse, victimization and violence.
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 February Newsletter 2009
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Photo courtesy of St.
Philip’s College
Sunny
skies and moderate temperatures drew out more than 100,000 people to
San Antonio’s MLK March making it one of the largest in the
country…way to go
San
Antonio!
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The 22nd Annual Martin Luther King Jr. March, Jan 19th:
San Antonio
Fighting Back, Inc. (SAFB) was proud
to take part in the 2009 MLK March and joined thousands
of others to celebrate the
holiday and the recent inauguration of the first African American
President. Linda Tippins, SAFB Executive Vice President, has taken
part in every MLK walk since the
1990s and feels that this year’s event is just the beginning of
MLK’s dream becoming a reality.
She explained, “There are many challenges ahead for our city
and SAFB promises to continue the good fight and bring about the positive
changes we need in our city for each and every one of us. Let us
unite in one common goal…to help one another…to put an end to
drugs and crime and to really LIVE the DREAM. This is a
holiday, but my staff are out here working because we believe in the Dream
and I’m so proud of San Antonio for coming out today…this is
just amazing!“ During the event SAFB hosted a resource
booth and gave out over 500 informational brochures and collaterals on Meth
and other substance abuse prevention and HIV/AIDS awareness.
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SAFB Presentations:
SAFB staff gave presentations during two report card nights
at the Knowledge Is Power Program (KIPP) Aspire Academy,
a college preparatory middle school. The 5th through 8th
graders received gang awareness and prevention information tailored for
their age groups and the parents received the information tailored to
them. The Academy Director, Joyce Boubel, said, “This
presentation is great for us all. We really need to be able to identify the
signs of trouble when we see them and act swiftly to stop the influences
here and at home.” One parent said, “I know there are
youth participating in gang activity in my neighborhood.
I see them skipping out of school. Before your training
I did not know that there was a daytime curfew for youth.” At
the conclusion SAFB treated everyone to hotdogs and refreshments. These
presentations are part of SAFB’s Strengthening Families to Succeed
Program funded by the City of San
Antonio.
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Rosalind
Harris, SAFB mentor and volunteer, spoke to over 300 students at KIPP Academy
as part of the substance abuse and gang violence presentations being
conducted this year. For more information about these presentations
contact Youth Services Director Mary McNaughton at 210-271-7232, extension
323.
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 SAFB staff member, Darrell Boyce, talked to over 500
parents at KIPP
Academy about gang and
substance abuse prevention. This is just one of many presentations planned
this year.
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Youth and Parent Counseling Services
Now Offered:
San Antonio Fighting Back, Inc. now offers Counseling
Services for individuals or families. Raising children today has
become increasingly difficult and many parents are at their wits end not
knowing how to communicate with their child. SAFB can provide youth an opportunity to explore their anger in a
non-threatening setting and learn ways to cope with their anger before it
becomes an explosive scene. If you or your child are in need
of counseling or are seeking assistance in dealing with difficult issues
related to substance abuse, anger control, or need to fulfill a court
obligated mandate, SAFB is here to help you. As part of the Youth
Prevention and Intervention Programs, SAFB provides Youth Development,
Anger Management, Life Skills & Drug Awareness/Prevention courses. A sliding fee scale applies to
many of the courses. To learn more, contact
MaLou Sison-Abinsay, SAFB Counselor, at 210-271-7232,
extension 315.
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www.safb.org
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