Mount Bethel and Broward AWARE! to Launch Campaign of Guidance and Mentors for At-risk Young Men

Broward County Commissioner Dale Holness, Fort Lauderdale Mayor Jack Seiler and City Commissioner Bobby Dubose to Help Launch Awareness Event

Lauderhill – The community is facing a crisis. Too many young men, especially African American and other minority young men, face odds toward success often stacked against them. The resulting effects typically entail risky behaviors, bad choices, brushes with the juvenile justice system, incarceration and worse.

Yet, study after study show that a positive role model can make all the difference in the direction a youth’s life will take.

That is why, Mt. Bethel Human Services Corporation and Broward AWARE! Protecting OUR Children are partnering to bring about a full day of activities and events on January 26th, from 9:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m. at Joseph C. Carter Park.

Mt Bethel is a community organization devoted to helping at-risk families make better choices, by providing them with the necessary tools to live better lives; Broward AWARE! Protecting OUR Children is a campaign based on the idea that families deserve to live in communities with resources and information that provide safe and healthy experiences for all children making it possible for them to safely realize their full potential, hopes and dreams.

“On January 26th we want our boys to know that they are loved, cared for, important, appreciated, and that they have a chance to change and live better lives”, said Marlene Lopes, Director of Programs and Operations at Mt. Bethel. “On this day, we will have inspirational and testimonial speakers, steppers, coaches, fraternities, men and boys clubs, programs, sporting activities, and a walk in honor of our boys,” she added.

“The presence of a positive male role model, a father or a mentor, in a child’s life is directly related to that child’s ability to succeed as an adult,” said Cindy Arenberg Seltzer, President/CEO of the Children’s Services Council of Broward County. “From reduced risk of infant mortality and incidences of abuse and neglect, to academic success and ability to be a productive adult, a positive male presence is pivotal in the lives of boys and young men. That is why we are proud to join with Mt. Bethel to raise awareness on this issue,” she added.

Income Tax Workshops

The January 26th event will also include the launching of the 2013 Earned Income Tax Credit (EITC) Awareness campaign and a series of Financial Literacy workshops for adults and children.

“The stress of difficult economic times may result in instances of domestic violence, child abuse and neglect and other unwanted outcomes” said Ingrid Ekblad, Program Manager – Economic Development for Hispanic Unity of Florida. “The EITC is a credit available to working families with incomes lower than $50,000. Because the credit is retroactive three years, it can result in substantial returns to the tax filer.

On January 26th we will be preparing taxes for free with IRS trained volunteers and we hope the community will take advantage of this opportunity,” she added. By calling 2-1-1 beforehand, tax filers can find out if they qualify and what documentation to bring.

For information on Mt. Bethel Human Services Corporation visit www.mbhsc.org

For information on Broward AWARE! visit www.211-broward.org

For information on the Children’s Services Council of Broward County and its funded programs visit www.cscbroward.org

For information on the EITC/VITA campaign, visit facebook.com/BrowardVITACollaborative