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Safe Streets hires community mobilization specialist
By Rodika Tollefson
KP News
Safe Streets hired a new, full-time
community mobilization specialist for its Key Peninsula
satellite office. Mike Babauta, a resident of Lacey,
started his new job in December. His previous job was as
a program assistant for Community Youth Services in
Olympia, following two years in the AmeriCorps.
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Babauta |
“I’m really excited about this new
challenge, and learning about the community and the
people,” he said.
Babauta said once he completes his
training and meets with various local groups and
neighborhoods, he will be able to narrow down his
priorities and focus on the top issues. He said his
primary role will be to serve as a resource for the Key
Peninsula/Gig Harbor area for safety related issues.
Moni Hoyt, Safe Streets operations
manager, told the Key Peninsula Community Council at its
December meeting that the role of Safe Streets and the
relationship with Community Council will change, and
Babauta’s role will be primarily to mobilize groups and
neighborhoods. He said Safe Streets will come up with an
agreement with the community council board in a few
months once Babauta is settled in his job. Hoyt said
Safe Streets would like to continue its partnership with
the council, as well as several other local groups Safe
Streets has supported, including Teens Empowered Against
Meth (T.E.A.M.), a Peninsula High School club.
“We are severely understaffed, as
most nonprofits are these days, but we’re working hard
to create and continue partnerships,” he said. One of
the new Safe Streets programs that Hoyt hopes to bring
to the Key Peninsula is called Meth 360. The program,
implemented in 2006, brings presentations by law
enforcement and other agencies to communities on various
aspects of methamphetamine.
“The number of meth labs in Pierce
County has dramatically decreased, especially this year
(2006), but the problem still exists,” Hoyt said.
Babauta plans to maintain regular
office hours at the Key Center Safe Streets office once
his training is complete. The office may be reached at
884-7899.
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