The San
Francisco Striders Youth Track and Field club was established in
1994, in conjunction with Ocean View-Merced-Ingleside Community
Association Center (OMI) and under the direction of Officer Billy
Ray Smith, a member of the San Francisco Police Department Patrol
Division. Drug dealing, drug users, were on the rise with young
black youth throughout the inner city neighborhoods. The drug
dealing became a turf war and the drive by shooting of gang members
and innocent bystanders, friends and families.
The program serves as a link between the black communities and the
San Francisco Police Department. Weekly life skill workshops were
performed with community activists and SFPD members conducting the
workshops with role playing if required to connect with the youth
understanding right from wrong and decision making to help...
"Stop the Violence"!
Monday through Thursday physical fitness training such as running,
jumping and throwing was provided as an after school program. Youth
that participated in the training competed in weekend events
throughout the San Francisco Bay Area, Statewide and National
events.
