The Grand Valley Criminal Justice Student Association will host “Those Who Protect Us” for the Pals Student Mentors, a student organization at Grand Valley State University that works to build relationships between students and at-risk area youth.

The event, set for Dec. 10 from 1 to 4 p.m. aims to give the children Pals works with a better understanding of the different agencies involved with public safety. The Grand Valley Police Department, Allendale Fire Department and Julie Yunker, director of the Grand Valley Police Academy, will help with the event.

President of PALS, senior Sean McCormack, and president of CJSA, junior Kyle Baker, said many of the at-risk youth have had bad experiences and hold negative images of law enforcement.

“The CJSA saw partnering with PALS as an opportunity to change the negative views these at-risk youth may have towards certain parts of the public safety sector,” Baker said. “We plan on accomplishing this by bringing in representatives from different public safety agencies and giving these youth a chance to interact with them in a fun, friendly and enjoyable atmosphere.”

The CJSA will be running the event while the PALS mentors accompany their assigned youth. There will be six different stations, each taking approximately 15 minutes, that will cover different elements of law enforcement and public safety.

“We decided to go with stations because it allows for smaller groups and a more personal experience for the youth,” Baker said.

Some of the stations involve a tour of a police squad car and a tour of a fire engine. The Grand Valley Police Department will be staffing two stations, one of which will be the tour of the squad car. The other will be a fun, yet informational, session about their duties as officers and the equipment they use.

“Each public safety department will discuss their role in keeping kids safe … who to call and what they do to help people,” said Kathleen Bailey, faculty adviser for Pals.

McCormack said demonstrating how the gadgets work shows the kids that the devices are used in more ways than restraining someone.

“(This event) allows the youth to see the public safety sector as an occupation,” she said. “It exposes them to another career and motivates them to go beyond high school.”

The Pals mentors have taken their youth to fire stations and police stations in the past; however, this is the first time that multiple public safety sectors have been incorporated into one event.

“This gets the youth exposed to campus and shows them they can be part of a campus when they get older,” McCormack said.

Bailey said the event will give the kids a chance to be exposed to different kinds of experiences while having fun.

“Kids begin to see a bigger life for themselves, possibly instill a hope for what they might like to pursue and the reason to do good in school today,” Bailey said.

Baker added, “It gives these youth a chance to experience an environment and atmosphere other than their own. It provides an opportunity for them to see Grand Valley as a possible avenue for further education.”

Both organizations are hoping to continue this event and begin others like it in the years to come. Bailey said these types of events really demonstrate the collaboration between different student organizations.

“It is great for the youth that are mentored, great for our students who provide these unique experiences, great for our mentors to have cost effective activities, and really great for GVSU to showcase to our community some of the things we do best … educate and serve the community,” Bailey said.

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