Putting the Pieces Together, an event hosted by the Dayton Police department on Friday, February 27, brought nearly 100 community members together with police officers to discuss recent tensions and violence.
Terry Purdue, a Sinclair graduate and Dayton police officer, worked with officer Zack Williams to organize the event that is now being held once a month.
Williams, a former firefighter who studied at Sinclair, has been with the Dayton Police department for 3years.
“My day job is a police officer, but I think overall my job as a police officer is rebuilding our communities,” said Williams. “When our communities are broken it makes our job a lot harder, especially if they don’t trust us.
Ginghamsburg Church, an active organization in the community, provided a place to hold the event. Activities occurred in Trotwood at The Point Campus located at 506 E Main St, Trotwood, Ohio 45426.
Those who attended gathered for food before the event began. Hazel Love, a Sinclair nursing major, volunteered to help pass out popcorn and cotton candy to the children who were present.
“I’m just here to be a part of this great journey,” said Love.
Chris Wiley, a local spoken word artist, performed for the crowd before breaking up into small groups. Wiley expressed that his work is a reflection of things he has encountered in his life.
“There is a huge gap between the community and the police especially were I’m from. I’m from the west side of Dayton,” said Wiley. “Where we’re from the only time you see an officer it’s a bad thing.”
Each group consisted of community members, a police officer, and a mediator from the Dayton Mediation Center. A series of questions were asked aimed at getting a conversation started between the police and community members.
Many other organizations that are involved with bettering the community were in attendance; organizations such as, The Victory Project, United Way and Big Brothers Big Sisters. These organizations share a common goal of helping the youth find ways of bettering their situations.
Williams explained that the Dayton Police department will continue to use social media and other means to attract the community’s youth to attend Putting the Pieces Together. Fifteen to 20 year olds are the target according to Williams.
His big brother Joeseph Radelet, who is CEO of Big Brothers Big Sisters of the Greater Miami Valley, accompanied Dior Davidson, 13, to the event.
Davidson has been little brother to Radelet for two and a half years, and enjoys many of the same things any teenager would. He plays football, is active in church, and sings in a church based rap group know as Ballers of America.
“He’s helped me with my math, he’s helped me be more out in the open,” said Davidson. “Usually I keep to myself, but after knowing him I’m out in front of everybody.”
Radelt has been involved with Big Brothers Big Sisters since 1973 when he took his first little brother under his wing. He served as CEO in the Detroit area before moving to Ohio.
“It’s been a huge part of my life,” said Radelet.
Matthew Purkey, a former Marine, sits on the board of directors for The Victory Project, a Dayton based mentoring program for young men, and works for United Way.
He explained that growing up in rural Waynesville, Ohio didn’t expose him to many of the tings youth are confronted with in the Dayton area and that events like these are important.
“I do [feel it is important] because you interact with other populations you don’t typically interact with,” said Purkey. “So it brings a different perspective, it challenges your own thought process.”
Demarcus Suggs, program coordinator for The Victory Project, expressed that the event was “eye-opening, different than expected. It opened my eyes in ways I never thought it would.”
Member of The Victory Project, Robert Baber, felt “it was a good experience.”
“Not enough, but it’s a great start.” Said Wiley