People Against Violence Enterprises (PAVE) will host its annual Stop the Violence/Back to School Rally slated for Saturday.
The event will run from 10 a.m. to noon. PAVE invites all Alachua County children and their families to attend the gym of Santa Fe College’s northwest campus (3000 NW 83rd St.) in Gainesville. The doors will open at 9 a.m.
The keynote speaker is Memphis rapper Project Pat, also known as Patrick Earl Houston. Since being released from prison for robbery and other charges, Project Pat has toured the country visiting and speaking to mostly young people in and out of prison to help them on the path to good decision-making and overcoming adversity. He also started a non-profit organization, Go Foundation with a focus on prison ministry.
Backpacks filled with school supplies, provided by Meridian Behavioral Healthcare, will be given out to the first 5,000 school-aged children in attendance.
The rally will feature speakers, entertainment, information on safety and counseling, and free vaccinations from the Alachua County Health Department. Representatives from Alachua County Public Schools will discuss back-to-school topics including free mental health and free school meals.
For more information about this rally, call 352-505-6839 or visit www.pavingpeace.org.
This will do NOTHING. We need better policing.