The Police Activities League: Celebrating The Grand Opening Of The PAL Foster Park Facility

The Police Activities League formerly known as the Police Athletic League was established in 1914 in New York City to address youth delinquency. Over its long history it has had its difficulties. Wars, depression, and other societal issues. Its main focus has always been to assist in keeping children on the right path. Police Officers worked and volunteered by providing After School Sports Activities and Homework Help.

PAL in our city was not around 30 years ago. It began with Former Chief Tom Magill who had a rich history and commitment to Community Policing. He was sworn into office in 2010 and started to transform our department. With the continued support of the city, many philanthropic corporate partners and community volunteers, PAL is serving well over 2,000 children annually through multiple programs and sports activities.

Jonathan Carrillo is the PAL Program Coordinator and is doing an amazing job. There is a PAL office at our new Bluesten Park located at 510 Southeast 1st Avenue. With the expansion into Foster Park, they will now have a meeting facility equipped with an office, classrooms, a library, and a kitchen area. In addition to their programs, they will be partnering with other agencies and Non-Profit Organizations to provide additional programs to enrich After School Activities.

PAL can use your help. You can always make a monetary donation. Visit them at: www.HallandaleBeachPAL.com or on Facebook. They are also looking for volunteers. You may have a special talent or skill that can expand the knowledge of our participants. You can simply volunteer to lend a hand during game days or at the center. We know many people are busy and may not want to make a full-time commitment, but you can sign up and find out the needs they are trying to fulfill that fit your time schedule. I encourage all our residents to stop by Saturday to enjoy the day and find out more.

PAL also partners with our local schools very closely. They have partnered with an Anti-Bullying Campaign at our K-8. Since COVID-19, our schools have been under plenty of stress. With lower enrollments that directly impact their budgets both Principal Campbell of Gulfstream Academy of Hallandale Beach K-8 and Principal Howard of Hallandale High School have been in rebuilding mode.

All Florida Schools rank around 50% in proficiency as compared to their national counterparts. So, when you look at schools compared to others they are around the same. These ranks are all combined meaning they are the average of all level combined percentiles. When you go into rankings at Public Schools it is truly not a level playing field compared to private. Public Schools are required to accept all students. They do not get the luxury of selecting all top performing students. Schools are not just simply about numbers or bricks and mortar. It is about students and teachers. With this said there is plenty of cream rising to the top at both schools.

With schools getting somewhat back to normal I have had a chance to attend some events at the schools. I wrote recently about the High School’s Women Leadership Day. Last week I had the chance to attend the JNHS Junior National Honor Society Installation and G.A.H. K-8 for the upper school students, the Stallions. It was the first ceremony for JNHS since COVID-19.

Principal Campbell’s team did an amazing job ensuring that the students received that recognition they deserved. It was an honor to participate and speak about “community.” The core principles of JNHS are scholarship, leadership, service, citizenship and character. It was great to have our District School Board Member Daniel P. Foganholi attend and give remarks. His support means so much to the school parents and most importantly the students.

Congratulations to all the parent and to inductees; Sofia Bondurenko, Emily Castro, Kerlin Contreras, Quentin Crawford, Brandon Diaz, D’cota Ferguson, Lailah Ferguson, Jaelix Fuentes, Frantz Teo Garaud, Jacob Garcia, Angie Cruz Iscano, Sydni Neunie, Camila Ortiz, Charlize Pozo, Giovannia Rodriguez, Razia Sadaf, Idanya Sancahez, Alexis Supersaad, Ethen Tassey, and Enzo Vasquez. All future leaders!

As always, I am available for your questions, concerns, and ideas to help make our City a better place. Please feel free to reach out to me at my office: (954) 457-1318. On my Cell/Text at: (954) 632-5700. Or email me at: jcooper@cohb.org.