by David Chapman
Staff Writer
When Mayor John Peyton asked attorney W.C. Gentry to become involved in the Jacksonville Journey initiative to do something about violent crime, Gentry said he didn’t know exactly what he was getting into.
Sitting before a packed house as the speaker for Thursday’s “Lunch and Learn” program at the Jacksonville Community Council Inc., he told the organization’s members and public, just what he’s learned in the two-plus year process.
“It’s probably one of the most important initiatives we have had in this community in a long time,” said Gentry, who is also a member of the Duval County School Board. “I hope its flame burns for a long time ... but it’ll need fuel.”
The fuel Gentry referred to comes in the form of funding for the Journey’s programs that Gentry, as chair of the Education, Truancy, Dropout and Literacy subcommittee, helped form.
It’s not about just throwing money at programs and hoping for positive outcomes, though. Gentry is part of the Journey Oversight Committee charged with ensuring that the taxpayer funded actions and programs are truly successful in creating a positive change and curbing violent crime.
While the hurdles, including the City vs. schools issue debate and letting City agencies all handle different programs, during the first six months of implementation delayed progress, Gentry believes the future appears bright — but only for the programs that work.
Newer and timelier progress benchmarks were warranted, he said, and the Oversight Committee will now have an active and clearer role as programs progress.
Gentry didn’t hesitate to discuss some of the programs working (summer camps, destruction of crime havens, created housing through Local Initiatives Support Corporation Jacksonville) and those with flaws (intramural sports, parts of the Town Centers initiative, the implementation of Out of School Suspension centers).
As part of oversight, each program will be on equal grounds.
“We’re going to find if they do not meet new benchmarks,” said Gentry. “If not, the money will be pulled (and go toward other programs).”
One of the largest programs of success to date, Gentry said, was one he wasn’t fully aware of the severity: felon re-entry and the need for programs to curb recidivism.
“The numbers (of felon re-entries) are absolutely staggering,” he said, telling the crowd 50,000 such individuals return to the community each year.
Yesterday marked the opening of the Jacksonville Re-entry Center, a regional program Gentry said is “going to be tremendously efficient” in reincorporating ex-offenders into society, though the program is now combating the job market in the current economy along with negative stigmas attached to such persons.
One of the “Lunch and Learn” participants has seen firsthand the success of the after school programs Gentry discussed.
Bishop Ron Dozier’s daughter, Rakita, participated in the Journey-funded “Team Up” after-school program of The Boys & Girls Club of Northeast Florida and was named the organization’s “Youth of the Year” last year.
He credits programs like Team Up for having a positive influence on his daughter and others who then spread the goodwill to the community.
”The results are real,” said Dozier. “I hope they continue to fund such programs, because we need them now more than ever.”
State Rep. Charles McBurney also attended Gentry’s Journey discussion to hear about the continued progress and issues facing the City. Community issues aren’t just about legislative issues, McBurney said, and staying in tune with the community is important.
“It’s very interesting,” said McBurney of Gentry’s presentation. “There are certainly many challenges out there that this Journey is dealing with and
I’m glad to see the community continue to aggressively face them.”
With the City in the midst of a budget crisis and the budget currently in City Council’s hands, Gentry hopes Council members see the importance, too.
“We’re hoping it continues,” said Gentry. “We’ll find out over the next few weeks.”
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