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The tenth annual Faith and Justice Summit sponsored by the Cops and Clergy Network takes place March 18th, 2010. This year the summit is being hosted by Chief Kilmer, San Bernardino Police Department and the City of San Bernardino.

The over-arching theme is “Civil Stimulus Powered by: FBO, CBO and Civil Partnerships” while sub-themes are: “Make a Difference in Your Community” and Graffiti: Prevention, Cost and Psychology”. Our government has been trying to stimulate the economy with minimal success. The truth of the matter is that the power and the resources truly lie within the people themselves. The Reverend Larry Dove is on the pastoral staff at the Emmanuel Christian Reformed Church of Paramount, CA. He is a summit keynote speaker. He will share their six year success story called the Compton Initiative. The Senior Pastor and Emmanuel adopted the city of Compton six years ago. They made a forty year commitment to Compton’s success. Pastor Dove will present the over-arching reason they are doing it (i.e. for moral, social justice and love of neighbor). He will address the economic and social benefits; as well as, the positive influence and safety of children.

He will then co-present a workshop called the Compton Initiative; outlining how they got started, how to maintain your momentum, how to organize the volunteers, how to assign and manage the task.

The local keynote speaker is the Reverend Bob Johnson, President of Redlands Community Christian College. He will address the value and practical sense it makes to partner with FBOs, CBOs, and Civil entities and institutions. President Johnson’s idea on Christian Community Development seems to be very similar to many of the principles in author and minister John Perkins’ book “Beyond Charity”. President Johnson will co-present the workshop called the Compton Initiative.

There is hope for a better tomorrow when cities and other civil government agencies work together with faith Based Organizations (FBOs), Community Based Organizations (CBOs) and Businesses.

The economy is strained but there are now opportunities to make great progress toward safe, financially sound, and beautiful communities, the communities where you live, work and raise a family.

There is hope that all children of the community can go to school and go out to play or shop without being harmed by criminals or be at-risk of becoming a criminal.

The University of Redlands has fielded a team of 5 students who are conducting a survey in regard to graffiti issues and cost. The survey is being done under the direction of Professor Mara Winick.

They will report their findings at the Faith and Justice Summit. However, there will be follow-up research effort that will be available to both law enforcement and community partners.

Workshops to be conducted are as follows: (1) How to Deal with Prisoner Reentry: Best practices; (2) The Five Different Types of Graffiti; (3) Youth Gangs and Violence; (4) The Compton Initiative; and, (5) Tools of Graffiti.

Key presenters and community partners that will be speaking are: Dr. Arturo Delgado, Superintendent, San Bernardino City Unified School District; Dr. Gary Thomas, Superintendent, County School of San Bernardino; Dr. Joshua Beckley of Ecclesia Baptist Church; Mr. Kent Paxton, Director of the Mayor Office of Community Safety and Violence Prevention, San Bernardino; Sgt Dwight Waldo, SBPD Graffiti Unit and Ms. Terri Kasinga of the California Transportation Agency (CalTrans).

Get registered soon. Fulfill your purpose in life. Come and take away many practical and least cost solutions to major problems faced in your and other communities across the Inland Empire, State and Nation.

For additional information and registration go to web site www.CopsClergyNetwork.Org or call (909) 792-4349.