But not everyone
was out for mischief

By William Kenny
Times Staff Writer

A lot of Northeast Philadelphia’s young people likely were up to no good on the evening of Oct. 30. After all, that’s why they call it "Mischief Night."
But as day turned to dusk at the Liddonfield Homes public housing community, hundreds of kids took to the outdoors for another reason, because somebody showed them how to have plenty of pre-Halloween fun without causing trouble.
The Liddonfield Tenants Council, the Northeast Stakeholders and the Kingdom Life Christian Center teamed up with area businesses and elected officials to sponsor their seventh annual Safe Night. As kids of all ages danced to music, played a variety of organized games, decorated pumpkins and enjoyed plenty of free snacks, local adults could rest assured knowing that those same youths weren’t out egging cars and writing on buildings.
"This way, we give them something (else) to do," said Rose Bryant, president of the Liddonfield council. "Hopefully, it gets them tired so they don’t go out (later) and tear the development up. We’re taking a negative and making a positive."
Actually, Bryant explained, the annual event is open to anyone in the Northeast, as are the various programs of the Northeast Stakeholders, which is based out of Liddonfield’s community building. Kingdom Life is also based at Liddonfield, but is open to all.
Representatives from all three organizations view events like Safe Night as a great way to bring families from Liddonfield and surrounding communities together.
"Anything that has to do with this community, we support in any area," said Dachia Taylor, daughter of the Kingdom Life pastor, Danette Ray. "We want to help people, and this is what God called these people to do."
"This is one way they get to meet their neighbors," added Crystal El, president of Northeast Stakeholders. "It’s for the whole Northeast. And we try to have the police come so (kids) get to meet them under good circumstances."
Officers from the 8th Police District spent some time at the event. Meanwhile, kids from the pre-school aged to older teens had a ball. They played "scary chairs," a Halloween version of musical chairs; needle in the haystack, a game where they had to find hidden lollypops; and an apple/spoon relay race.
"We made a bunch of stuff up for them," Bryant said.
Older youths helped the younger ones paint pumpkins and their faces in seasonal colors. A local dance team organized by the Stakeholders performed a hip-hop drill that it’s been working on lately.
State Rep. Mike McGeehan and City Councilwoman Joan Krajewski both supported the event, Bryant said, while the Wawa store at Frankford and Linden avenues has been a big sponsor from the first year of the event.
Organizers of the event hope that it continues to have a positive impact on local youths well beyond one night a year. Liddonfield resident Tamara L. Foy passed out information about the ongoing programs offered to kids and adults by the Stakeholders.
Young people are free to come weekdays after school and participate in activities like the dance team and the Police Explorers. The Stakeholders, which are sponsored by the city’s Department of Human Services, also organize workshops and consult directly with families on issues ranging from truancy to teen pregnancy to domestic violence.
"If a child is dealing with truancy issues in school, we get involved and try to find out what the issues are," Foy said.
Sometimes, the families can’t afford to buy school uniforms or public transportation for their kids, Foy said, so the Stakeholders get them what they need. ••
Reporter William Kenny can be reached at 215-354-3031 or bkenny@phillynews.com