SB Now

Who will step in, become partners, and bolster a program that's on an
unsustainable course?

But the kids weren't worried.

About 50 youngsters, most from area subsidized project housing
complexes, took part in various sports with members of the San
Bernardino Police Department and a local nonprofit at American Sports
University on Saturday.

The program, dubbed Team Violence Intervention and Prevention (Team
VIP), was launched earlier this year jointly by the San Bernardino
Police Officers Association and Young Visionaries Youth Leadership
Academy.

Ever since, it has drawn dozens of local youths from some of the
city's toughest neighborhoods two Saturday mornings per month for
sports, mentorship and some of the city's most prominent guest
speakers.

In recent months, names like San Bernardino Mayor Pat Morris, City
Attorney James F. Penman, County Supervisor Josie Gonzales and a
handful of local city council members. Sun Editor Steve Lambert has
also been a featured speaker.

But while the program has been a success, its future is not set, said
Young Visionaries' President and CEO Terrance Stone.
"We're making it work right now, but we're close to running on
empty," Stone said.

Stone said transporting the kids is difficult and costly, requiring
his staff to pick up and drop off sometimes upward of 50 kids in
their personal cars.

The lunches, T-shirts and some equipment is all paid for out of the
police union's coffers, and the approved expenditures are nearly
gone, Stone said.

On Saturday, a half-dozen off-duty police officers played basketball
and lifted weights with the youths, most of whom hail from the
Waterman Gardens and West San Bernardino housing projects.

"It's important to keep this going," Stone said. "It's one of the few
opportunities these kids have to interact with police in a mentorship
role."