The program helps strengthen the relationship between police officers and the communities in which they serve. Members of those communities are encouraged to donate snacks, which are stored at the Dayton Foodbank and put into snack bags. Officers pick up the bags, then hand them out to kids 13 and younger.
We recently caught up with this week's Daytonian of the Week to learn more.
Q. What do you do?
A. I serve my community currently as the Phoenix Project patrol officer for the city of Dayton, Ohio and the founder of a grassroot community services/fitness group.
Q. How long have you been a police officer?
A. I have been a police officer for 4 years now. Currently serving WPOD.
Q. Why did you want to become a police officer?
A. I wanted to become a police officer because I wanted to have a career where my decisions had purpose and could impact others' lives.
Q. Please tell us about The Unit and the Snack Back the Streets program. Why was it created and what does it do?
A. The Unit is a grassroots community service/health and fitness driven organization. We provide free health and fitness class two to three times a week, and our members participate in volunteering and community service projects three to five times a month year-round. My partner Lamonte Hall JR introduced the first community service project to our group. Jennifer Campbell has been active in organizing and planning the Unit's events for the past four years. Our current fitness bootcamp schedule is Mondays and Wednesdays 6-7:30 p.m. at Riverscape Metropark; and on Saturdays, TBA.
Q. How can people in the community help?
A. Snack Back our Street is a program the Unit started last year to increase positive interactions between police and community. The community provides the city of Dayton police department with individually wrapped snacks. These snack are distributed by officers at special events like National Night Out, or from police officers' cruisers.
People can help by joining our Facebook Group called the Unit and follow up with the opportunities provided there to serve your community, and get healthy for free. We are alway collecting items to meet the demand for people in need.
Q. You obviously care a great deal about children and young people. How do they inspire you?
A. I'm inspired by youth because very soon youth will take up our positions in life. I hope we make decisions that gives them more opportunity and a greater advantage than we had. Youth are our only hope for a positive future as well as a positive change for the world.
Q. What inspires you about Dayton?
A. I'm inspired by Dayton because of its history. At one place in time we were inventors and entrepreneurs. We created all that we could dream of.
Q. If you could change one thing about Dayton, what would it be?
A. If I could change one thing about Dayton, it would be to create more leaders. I wish I could show every citizen here what it means to be American. Which is, we are all responsible for the direction of our country. I wish individual citizens in Dayton would take on more personal responsibility for their quality of life. Give back, express love, concern and be the change! There are too many of us pointing fingers and failing to realizing we are the only solution.
Q. What do you think the city will look like in 10 years from now?
A. In 10 years, I believe our city will be in a much better postion if our residents and leadership continue to try new solutions for new problems and stay away from applying old solutions to new problems. I am hopeful great things will come from Dayton.
Q. What else would you like us to know?
A. Be the best at whatever it is you love. God created you to solve a problem. If you haven't determined what that problem is, follow your true passion and it will connect you to purpose.