Lack of Funding Forces CTRIBAT to Cut Some Summer Events and Workshops

New Haven, CT (PRWEB) July 26, 2006

As of Tuesday 25, 2006, CTRIBAT Youth Development will be canceling some of its future events and workshops scheduled for the 2006 Leadership Program. Founder and Executive Director Shafiq Abdussabur sighted that the reason was due to a lack of funding. CTRIBAT currently has 56 young males ages 9 years old to 17 years old registered for its summer program. That number is up by 15 since June 30th of 2006. The cost for each student was estimated at approximately $1,000 per student with a total projected operational budget of $43,900 for a nine week program.

Currently CTRIBAT is one of the only youth programs that operates for nine weeks in the summer. Moreover, CTRIBAT is one of the only youth program in the entire State that offers and has conducted three trademarked CTRIBAT Interactive Workshops on topics others would not have dared to try and duplicate.

CTRIBAT Currently employs three Junior Instructors, and one Program Coordinator. “Unfortunately, my young staff will be affected by this move, but they can only work on good faith and promises for so long.” The Program Coordinator has been moved into assuming much of the day-to-day operation as CTRIBAT receives an average of one new student a day and over 20 phone calls a day from parents. Abdussabur stated, “We know that the program works. We have been doing it low profile for three years now. The 20 plus phone calls a day we receive for new referrals is just a testament that the program works and is desperately needed in our Inner City areas. The parents believe in us, we believe in ourselves; now I just need the generous donors and entities with money to realize that and believe in investing in tomorrow’s future by funding CTRIBAT.”

CTRIBAT has received some hallmark funding early on in the summer. Yale State of Affairs weighed in as the first donor contributing a generous amount to the program as seed monies. In addition, New Alliance Bank has also stepped up to the plate and gave a modest monetary donation. Other mass support has come by way of gifts in kind by the New Haven Police Department and the overwhelming support and collaboration with New Haven Police Chief Francisco Ortiz.

Abdussabur stated, “CTRIBAT regrets that it has to take this position but, in order to insure the integrity of the program as planned and to maintain the guidelines for the mission and goals of the Summer Leadership Retreat 2006 we were forced to make an Executive Decision.” We will still have the confirmed workshops which will include a tour and luncheon with Yale Chief of Police and a tour and luncheon with the New Haven Fire Chief. Graduation will still take place on Saturday August 26, 2006.    

As to date, CTRIBAT has secured $7,820.00

Total still needed $36,080 for the 2006 Summer Pilot.

CTRIBAT currently has approximately 56 young males registered for its summer pilot.

Over 90% of them reside in the Dixwell Avenue area around the Dixwell Q-House.

Some of our current program supporters as of Monday, July 24, 2006: New Haven Police Department, Yale University State of Affairs, New Alliance Bank, TYCO Printing, Stetson Public Library, SUBWAY (State & East Street), Balance Fitness, Downtown Pizza, Dixwell Market, Dixwell Mini-Mart, Francis Beauty Supply, Christian Tabernacle.    

CTRIBAT Board of Directors: Alderman Drew King, Fred Fulcher Jr. MSW,

Siraaj Muhammad, Lou Ann Bohman, Jesse Hameed II, Brenda Johnson, Carl Myers.

Executive Director: Shafiq R. F. Abdussabur

Chief Financial Officer: Deborah De Loatch-Hogan

Director of Development: Wanda Faison

Program Director: Josh Lindo

Program Coordinator: Courtney D. Gayle

Additional Instructors for this workshop:

Officer Russell Blackwell, Officer Jason Jackson

Learn More about CTRIBAT at: WWW.CTRIBAT.ORG

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