Safe Walk program helps Mornelle kids get to school

It's 8 a.m and kids are streaming out of the Mornelle Court buildings in eastern Scarborough.

The best route to their school is a shady stairwell running through the wooded area to the back of the complex.

But a young man was shot dead there in 2008 and that stairwell became off-limits during a particularly violent eight-month period.

 "Parents weren't taking their kids to school anymore," said Angela Bracket, who lives in the area.

"They were afraid to walk because we had a couple of shootings ... so it really affected the community."

The final straw was the murder of 17-year-old Shazad Khawaja in July 2008.  He was gunned down during a trip to the store to buy milk for his mother.  

That's when Brackett decided to do something to make the neighbourhood safe for their families. She started the Safe Walk program.

The group of volunteers in yellow reflective vests have been walking neighbourhood kids to school for the past seven years.

They make their way around the community, gathering children as they go. In all, about 80 children use the program to get to and from school.

School staff say attendance is up

"We started the program with 20 children and it just evolved and it just grew," Brackett said.  

"We have letters from the principal stating that since we started this program the kids are coming out more ... more attendance and they're arriving on time and it's because of what we're doing in the community."

The children yell "Good morning, Miss Angela", as they join the human school bus. 

"I think it's awesome because whenever my mom can't bring me to school, they bring me," says Grade 4 student Malachi Cupid.

"They feel like they're my family."

And Brackett's volunteerism isn't lost on Alyssa Fullner, who's also in Grade 4.

"I think it's nice of her because she doesn't really do it for money. She does it for the kids because she cares about us."

Safe Walk program partners with police, city

Brackett started the program in partnership with Toronto Police 43 Division, Toronto Community Housing, and the local city councillor, Paul Ainslie.  

She has received support from the city's Community Crisis Response Program (CCRP), which helps communities impacted by violence.  

Volunteer Blossom Wynter has been with her since day one.

"The residents were scared.  I was scared, also.  So Angela, my friend, came up with this idea and the parents were so happy about it".

Almost daily, Toronto Police Const. Randall Arsenault joins the group.

Wynter believes it's the police partnership that has changed this community.

"The cops used to come around ... it used to be a problem.  We have 43 Division cops. They walk with us, make it even better.  So, right now the cops and the community, we are one family."

'It was like a war'

The volunteer team also offers free camps and a homework program in space donated by TCH.

 "It was like a war, but now it's like a love web. Isn't it kids?" asks Wynter. 

The children respond with a "yes" so loud it resonates through the stairwell. 

The group, flanked with volunteers, rushes to school, arriving safely before the bell.