x
Breaking News
More () »

Warner Robins Clergy Task Force discuss crime and community needs

Nearly 15 leaders met to discuss crime, building community partnerships, and improving communication.

WARNER ROBINS, Ga. — Warner Robins formed a new task force with the goal to help improve communication and quality of life in the International City. 

Mayor LaRhonda Patrick invited a group of pastors to join the Clergy Task Force to help combat crime and other issues facing the community.

Nearly 15 members met Tuesday afternoon for the first time.

Reverend Wanda West is the pastor at Adams Smith Tabernacle AME Church on Green Street. At Tuesdays meeting she says some of their main goals included looking at crime, the power of partnerships and the power of family literacy.

To attack crime she'd like to see more of a community focus on character education and she says it's something the church can spread.

"It is our job to get out into the community, to know those families. Not only to know them, but to teach, to work with them, and integrate them into the large part of the big family community," she said.

Daryl Vining also sits on the task force. He is the Pastor of Hebron Fellowship Baptist Church. He says the task force is another way to better communication between community entities, like the police department.

"Improving, that dialogue and that dynamic. Getting our police to be more available and accessible to the citizens, and then letting our citizens know that relationships with police ought to be natural and normal. It shouldn't be a thing that's always fraught with concern," he said.

The task force isn't only focused on crime.

"As a clergy task force, crime is only one area. There are so many other areas such as employment practices, such as the services that are available," Vining said.

West wants to see more outlets for child literacy and creativity. Vining says wants to add more recreation in the city. 

"Though we're building complexes we have to open them up for everyone to be able to participate in them. That's not just for our young folks but our seniors," he said.

Vining says people need to voice their needs. 

"The reality is this, will we have a voice or we need to find out if this is just a PR thing. I don't want this to be a PR thing," he said.

West says the task force is now working toward drafting a written strategic process for executing plans.

Before You Leave, Check This Out