Helping Create Safe Communities & Neighbourhoods

By: Steve Woolrich

Ted Danson stars in Knights of the South Bronx

So what does a game of chess have to do with Crime Prevention?  Better yet, what’s Crime Prevention through Social Development (CPSD)?  Well, according to the National Crime Prevention Centre (NCPC) CPSD is an approach to preventing crime and victimization that recognizes the complex social, economic, and cultural processes that contribute to crime and victimization.  CPSD seeks to strengthen the “bridge” between criminal justice policies and programs and the safe, secure, and pro-social development of individuals, families, and communities.

When we consider the various risk factors that many of our children are exposed to its clear to see how the potential for criminal behavior can develop.  Unfortunately, many of these kids are lost in the cracks especially those in poor socioeconomic conditions.  There are promising solutions we can all explore but its all about taking action and extending a hand to those who need our help.  Is there anyone more deserving than a child?

Every once in a while my faith is restored in the film industry and I discover a great movie.  The Knights of the South Bronx is outstanding!  In fact, its a “keeper”, one of those movies you want for your collection.  It’s not full of gloom and doom, violence, course language and sexual content!  It’s about one man determined to make a difference.  I could not help thinking that this story “oozes” with CPSD and proves how even a game of chess can change a child’s life.  

I learned the game as a youngster and still play every now and then.  I can certainly see how this group of students was drawn to the game and how it represents life.  I won’t spoil it for any of you but I will close on this note.  The pawn is defined as one of the chessmen of least value having the power to move only forward, ordinarily one square at a time, to capture only diagonally forward, and be promoted to any piece except king upon reaching the eighth rank.  I think many children often underestimate themselves, possibly seeing themselves as that “pawn” or chess piece with the least value.  Life is no game, but like the pawn, is it not up to each and every one of us to help our children move forward in life?

Filed under Community Crime Prevention, Portals for Discovery