The Auburn Police Department looked at four years of crime data and found that 23 percent of all crimes committed by youth offenders in Auburn took place within an area of less than half a square mile. Twenty-five percent of all police calls for service and 28 percent of all youth victims were victimized in this same area.

In an effort to transform these statistics, the Auburn Police Department established the Auburn Police Activities League.

Auburn’s City Council turned over a vacant city property at 24 Chestnut St., and in April of last year, the Auburn PAL Center opened, right at the heart of the half-square mile area identified by crime data.

The Auburn PAL Center has been providing educational and athletic activities for kids after school and during the summer, not to mention positive interaction with police officers. “We are changing young lives,” said Police Chief Phil Crowell. “These kids love the PAL Center. Our first year has been incredible, and there is still so much more to be done, so much potential.”

A few highlights from the first year at Auburn PAL:

* More than 100 kids received brand new running shoes and/or winter boots;

* More than 100 kids participated in the PAL summer running program; a few even ran in the Lake Auburn Half Marathon – Kids Fun Run;

* With guidance and instruction from Master Gardeners from the University of Maine Cooperative Extension, the PAL kids created an incredible community garden full of flowers and vegetables;

* “Snack drives” by local businesses to help provide healthy snacks for PAL kids;

* At-risk kids between the third and eighth grades spent time at the PAL Center, getting homework help, learning from mentors, cooking, playing games and having fun in a safe environment with trusted volunteers.

The PAL Center has a part-time PAL Coordinator now, and together with the APD’s elementary school resource officers and some dedicated community volunteers, the programs are really starting to come together.

Auburn PAL’s signature fundraiser is called Leadercast. This is a one-day leadership training event was broadcast LIVE from Atlanta, Georgia on May 9 to host sites around the world, including Auburn. Leadercast helps raise much-needed funds to support the programs and mission of the PAL Center.