Local cops use dance, other unique ways to keep kids out of trouble

When Shoreline Police Officer Dahlia Corona got called to
Shorewood High School because of gang problems, it struck
her that there had to be a better way to help kids stay
out of trouble than just lecturing or arresting them. And
rather than tell them what to do, she asked them what they
thought would help.

Surprisingly, they suggested starting a Mexican dance
group. So Corona turned to the King
County Police
Activities League for help.

“Our mission is pretty simple but very profound. We bring
together kids, cops, and community so that each learn and
benefit from each other,” says Executive Director Anne
Goos.

Goos says the Mexican dance group is giving about 20
students “the opportunity to share in a rich cultural
experience while also exploring self-expression,
communication, physical activity, and team work.”

The students are also participating in workshops teaching
them life skills, such as etiquette, conversation
techniques, mentoring, and job preparation.

Founding dance team member Luis Rene Bibiano Balbuena, a
Shorewood senior, admits he was skeptical at first. But
he says it’s creating a strong community and keeping a lot
of kids out of trouble that otherwise would likely be in
the thick of it.

“To my surprise, they have stayed until the end. I am so
proud they did because honestly, I didn’t have any hope
for them. They proved me wrong.”

Thanks to funding and support from PAL, the group was able
to purchase authentic costumes and has begun performing at
school and various community events.

“We have research that shows that if kids have positive
interactions with cops outside of any of the conflict
situations that you’re going to find kids have a different
relationship and a different understanding of cops,” Goos
says.

The King County PAL is modeled after decades old programs
popular in major East Coast cities like New York and
Boston, where cops have offered a number of successful
juvenile delinquency prevention programs usually involving
athletics.

While the King County PAL supports boxing, flag football
and other athletic activites, Goos says it’s important to
also reach kids who aren’t interested in sports. Along
with the Mexican dance group, a dog training program
called Laws and Paws pairing at-risk kids with a no-kill
pet shelter, is seeing great results.

“We like to intervene early and we like to work with cops
who understand that their role is really beyond just what
they’re doing on patrol,” Goos says.

The officers themselves propose and create the programs,
and Goos says the organization would be able to support
many more with a minimal increase in donations and
volunteers.

“The Mexican dance group was no more than $9,000 to get
started. We don’t anticipate it’s anything more than
about $2,000 a year to make sure this program goes on,”
Goos says.

“We’re not a big expensive non-profit but we just need
more people supporting us, donating, and more people
joining in with us to understand how bringing kids, cops
and community together means safer streets for Seattle, a
better understanding community, and kids who value
authority.”

And Luis says he’s amazed how much of an impact one cop
has made on so many kids by simply believing in them.

“And those kids, they’re going to make a huge difference
in other kids and on and on. So yeah, it really does only
take one,” he says.

You can make a difference as well by supporting the King
County Police Activities League. That’s why Bonneville
Seattle, The Seattle Seahawks, and Les Schwab Tire Centers
are proud to honor the King County Police Activities
League as May’s charity of the month.