Auburn Police are working to prevent juvenile crime and violence with a program that provides civic, athletic, recreational and educational opportunities to kids. The National Association of Police Athletic/Activities League Inc. (PAL) is a youth crime prevention program that utilizes activities to create trust and understanding between police officers and youth.

Deedra Wagner is spear heading the project and as a widowed mother of a teenage daughter, she recognizes the need for a teenager to have a sense of direction, a safe place to cut loose and be themselves without the passing of judgment. She sees the need for mentors that desire teens to succeed, resulting in self love, self respect, and a high level of self esteem.

Her daughter is now well on her way to college, but Wagner realizes that there are others out there who need to have all of these qualities in their lives, just as her daughter did.

Wagner feels that her job is just beginning and she has a vision for these kids.

"I have always been the ‘cool mom’", she said. "It seemed like kids were always drawn to me, whether it was to hang out or for an in-depth conversation … they always seemed to flock to me. So, I figured, I can make something out of this, I can do something rewarding, I can give back," Wagner explained.

This is where the vision comes into play.

"PAL will be a place where teens can come and be comfortable, and at the same time their parents can be comfortable knowing where their teenagers are going to hang out," she said.

The program is based on the conviction that youth who are reached at an early age can develop positive attitudes towards law enforcement.

The PAL program brings young people under the supervision of officers and works to expand public awareness about the role of law enforcement and the reinforcement of the responsible values and attitudes in youth by their parents.

Individual Chapters are provided with resources and opportunities to grow their own individual programs. Resources include funding through various grants, goods and services provided by corporate sponsors and supporting organizations, general liability programs and programming opportunities through affiliate organizations.

Working alongside Auburn City Council, Auburn Police Department and other active members of the community, Wagner, assisted by Lisa Duncan, a longtime friend and resident of neighboring Dacula, are opening a PAL Center in the Auburn area.

PAL was founded in 1914 and has been serving young people for more than 90 years. After careful consideration, Wagner decided on PAL for the basis of her teen center .

Auburn officers support the idea of a youth-focused program in the area.

"This program will help the City of Auburn explore and shape the youth perspectives of their community," said Cpl. Jason Lynch. "It will also inspire self-expression and provide youths with essential skills. It will then generate increased interest in community service involvement. The P.A.L. program will provide one-on-one mentorship with positive role models," Lynch said.

Officer and Gang Investigator J.D. Boyd said the program will be a means of teaching Auburn teenagers gang resistance.

"These students can hopefully pass the information they receive from PAL to others. Peer pressure is the hardest on children and teens. Resistance education is paramount and Pal is a great environment to establish this education," he said.

Wagner, along with the input and assistance of Auburn Chief of Police Fred Brown and the Board of Directors, are currently working together to secure a location. They are in negotiations for a specific location that everyone agrees would serve the purpose of the center both indoors and out. Once the location has been secured, the program is available to receive grants to fund the center.

"At this time, community involvement is imperative," Wagner said. "Volunteers and donations for the center such as furnishings, recreational items, computers and financial contributions are always welcomed."

Today, there are more than 400 PAL Member Chapters in law enforcement agencies servicing more than 700 cities and 1,700 facilities throughout the U.S. PAL currently serves more than 2 million youth ages 5-18.

The Auburn Chapter will be focused on children ages 13 to 19 years old.

An Information meeting will be held Nov. 17 from 6-8p.m. at the Auburn Public Library. Information on when and where to sign your 13-19 year old up will be announced in the future.

For more information on PAL visit www.nationalpal.org.

To find out how to become involved with the Auburn Chapter, contact Dee Wagner at ddwagner32@yahoo.com.

Deedra Wagner contributed to this article.