The Thunder Bay Police Service’s Community Outreach Branch developed a series of four videos aimed at helping to prevent gang recruitment among youths. The videos were formally launched during a special viewing at the Victoria Inn’s Embassy Ballroom on the evening of Tuesday, March 29. TBPS Community Outreach Branch has collaborated with individuals with real life experiences being recruited into gang life. They have shared their stories and inspired a series of video the TBPS in collaboration with community partners will use to educate youth and the greater community. Also lending their expertise for the educational videos was Wali Shah, spoken word poet and motivational speaker. The first video of the four-video series, “Dear Self” written and performed by Wali Shah was shown today at public speaking events at Hammarskjold High School and St. Patrick’s High School: https://vimeo.com/659703125/a05be58779 With the influx of gang related incidents and violence in the community, a collaborative approach is being taken to help support individuals in our community that are at greatest risk being victimized or impacted by gang activity. Education on the realities of what is going on in the community, outlining risk factors and protective factors as well as signs to look out for will help students, educators, parents and community members work together to build a healthier community. This project was funded the Ministry of the Solicitor General - Proceeds of Crime Front-Line Policing Grant Program. Community partners working with the TBPS: • Our Kids Count • John Howard Society • City of Thunder Bay - Community Safety and Wellbeing Council • Lutheran Community Care • Elizabeth Fry Society of Northwestern Ontario • Norwest Community Health Centres • Kairos Community Resource Centre Wali Shah short biography: As an alumni of the RBC’s top 25 Canadian Immigrants, Wali Shah is a poet and public speaker. He’s delivered TED talks, created poetry for corporate events, narrated voice over for commercials and spoken at hundreds of schools and colleges across North America. Wali has toured Canada coast to coast as a WE Day performer and closed out President Barak Obama’s keynote speech with a bespoke poetic message in Toronto. He impressed notable figures with his freestyle poetry and performances, including Seth Rogen, Chris Hadfield, Kareem Abdul-Jabbar and Kendrick Lamar. Wali has also served his hometown as Poet Laureate for the City of Mississauga. His work inspires thousands to follow his voice, his journey, and his advocacy. Wal Sha is the people’s messenger. https://www.lifeaswali.com/