At-Risk KYDS Program Needs Help : The West Valley Gang Intervention Effort Lacks Funding, Equipment and a Home

An unavoidable side effect of the electoral process is that pet projects are often jeopardized when veteran officeholders are defeated. Unfortunately, the KYDS program, the west San Fernando Valley’s largest private nonprofit gang intervention effort, faces just such a situation.

Since its inception, two years ago, KYDS (which stands for Keep Youth Doing Something) has launched a welcome array of programs and activities, primarily for poor juveniles thought to be at risk of becoming gang members. One early effort was helping to fund and sponsor an orchestra at Canoga Park Elementary School. KYDS has also worked with other groups to sponsor monthly field trips and excursions.

KYDS’ best effort to date, however, was the creation of Friday night softball leagues for boys and girls at Lanark and Reseda Parks. Games were followed up with food, refreshments and dances. This not only helped return more wholesome activities to parks once overrun by drugs and crime, it also provided some 200 youths with a social event that they might not have otherwise enjoyed.

Unfortunately, KYDS was run out of the office of former 3rd District Councilwoman Joy Picus by one of her aides, Sandy Kievman. KYDS now has no office. Kievman is also out of work and doubtful that prospective employers will allow her to devote much time to maintaining the program. A federal grant obtained last year has also run out. Even if the grant is renewed, new federal funding may be months away.

In the meantime, KYDS is in need of many things, such as baseball bats and gloves, T-shirts, trophies, a computer and donations of food, which is the program’s biggest expense item. Those interested in helping out should call (818) 992-8870. KYDS has offered an alternative to youths who are straddling the fence of gang membership, and its good work should continue.