State grant to help put teens on the right track

By Russell Nichols, Globe Staff  |  July 7, 2006

Governor Mitt Romney yesterday made $700,000 available to combat youth violence in Boston and also defended faith-based and community organizations that hire former convicts and gang members to help in the battle.

``We're not going to stop doing good because of a few bad apples," he said.

At a press conference packed with ministers and community leaders, Romney announced that he had made available $700,000 for community groups to fund programs to combat youth violence in the city. Half of the money is to be set aside for the Black Ministerial Alliance, including for the Rev. Eugene F. Rivers III.

Romney said the faith community has been instrumental in reducing crime in past years and that working together would be the only way to save lives on Boston's streets.

``Our faith leaders are on the front lines," Romney said. ``Of course, there will always be people who turn back and start doing things they've done in the past, but you can't stop doing good. I believe in the power of changing lives."

The grant money is in addition to the pending $3 million Romney asked the state Legislature to approve last month to fund similar programs. At the press conference, Rivers, founder and president of the National TenPoint Leadership Foundation, said he would be open to a system of audits that would review how taxpayers' money is being spent within these programs.

He said the money would be used to fund cultural and educational programs and resources for youth in some of Boston's most crime-ridden areas.

Rivers said he would not discriminate against potential mentors because of criminal backgrounds, but he would hire ``responsible, caring adults."

``Could Malcolm X be a good mentor? Could Nelson Mandela be a good mentor?" he asked. ``We look forward to putting our troops on the grounds, on the streets."

At a separate appearance, Mayor Thomas M. Menino said yesterday that he wants all outreach workers to undergo a criminal background check.

``I'd like the Boston police to know who's on the streets," he said.