With violence on the rise and summer on the horizon, a local youth organization is taking steps to create a safe haven for children in New Iberia.

The Iberia Boys and Girls Club, established in 1997, serves more than 800 children each year.

The club is open week days from 3 p.m. to 8 p.m. during the school year and 7:30 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. during summer.

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“I think what we do every day is give kids hope,” said Arlene Armentor-Bonner, executive director of the Boys and Girls Clubs of Acadiana.

“We try to help our children learn how to make positive choices, whether it’s staying in school, staying away from violence or staying away from drugs. We want them to be healthy, productive adults, and we try to give them the tools they need to make those decisions,” Armentor-Bonner said.

The Iberia Boys and Girls Club recently joined forces with the National Organization of Black Law Enforcement Executives to address violence in New Iberia. The city has seen four homicides in the past six months.

Representatives from NOBLE conducted a community engagement training session at the club last month with law enforcement officers, community leaders and Boys and Girls club staff and members.

Armentor-Bonner said the result of the meeting was the formation of an action team, made up of board member Angela Blanchard, District Judge Lori Landry, Iberia Parish Sheriff’s Office Deputy Kevin Kately and club member Johnny Cope.

She said the team will be meeting to facilitate a greater level of community involvement in the club and the surrounding neighborhood.

Representatives from NOBLE will be returning to New Iberia within the next two months to conduct another training session designed to build relationships between children and law enforcement. Armentor-Bonner said all Iberia Parish youths will be invited.

“Kids who come will see different videos of different scenarios where young people might have a chance to interact with law enforcement,” she said.

“It’s really to teach them how to react and respond to law enforcement for positive outcomes.”

Armentor-Bonner said the Iberia Boys and Girls Club offers activities in five core program areas, including education and career development, character and leadership development, health and life skills, the arts and sports, fitness and recreation.

The club offers homework assistance, classes in drug abuse and violence prevention and a 10-station laptop wireless computer lab to help build technology skills.

“A lot of people think we’re a recreation program, but that’s really just one facet of what we do,” Armentor-Bonner said.

Sixteenth Judicial District Attorney Phil Haney said he has seen first hand what the club can do.

Haney cited the progress of Lamar Narcisse, Youth of the Year for the Club and the organization. Narcisse has traveled to Orlando, Fla., Tampa, Fla., and Norfolk, Va., through his participation in the club’s Keystone program.

“Lamar is a great leader in the club, and a wonderful example of the kids we have in the club who are working hard, making good decisions and preparing for their future,” Haney said.

For more information about the Iberia Boys and Girls Club and its programs, call 364-7040 or 268-9555.