Children in the community of Elmwood will benefit from a new partnership formed between the Winnipeg police and Status4 Inc.
The non-profit initiative, started last fall by Winnipeg police Const. Kevin Gibson, provides free after-school music, arts programs and taekwondo for youth without access or opportunity due to social and economic barriers. It began at the East End Cultural and Leisure Centre by Gibson, who began looking for new ways to inspire young people to live healthy lives free of crime.
The city is contributing $85,000 to the initiative, while contributions from corporations and the community make up the rest of the needed funding. The Manitoba government, through Neighbourhoods Alive!, has provided $28,000 towards launching Status4 in the neighbourhood of Chalmers.
“In my time as Mayor, I have heard so many times that all it takes is one mentor to completely change a young person’s life,” said Mayor Sam Katz. “Kevin, along with all of the other mentors involved with Status4, will no doubt make a tangible difference in this community.”
