University Area CDC’s Prodigy Presents at Pinellas County Legislative Delegation Meeting

Ron Bradford of the University Area Community Development Corporation’s (UACDC) Prodigy cultural arts program addressed Florida State Legislators during the Pinellas County Legislative Delegation Meeting Oct. 31, which was held at the St. Petersburg College Seminole Campus. Prodigy, funded by the Department of Juvenile Justice, delivers life skills such as communication, problem-solving and conflict resolution through performing and visual arts curriculum for at-risk youth ages 7-17.

“Prodigy prevents youth from going deeper into the juvenile justice system. Not only does Prodigy provide a safe place where youth feel comfortable coming into and taking a risk with caring adults and peers, but it also provides tools that assist them in making better decisions, developing a sense of self-worth, establishing a connection to the community and an appreciation for others,” explained UACDC’s Prodigy Site Liaison Ron Bradford. “Parents see a positive change in their youth that are part of the Prodigy program.”

Representative Dwight Dudley expressed to Bradford his appreciation for all the work Prodigy is doing and explained that many Prodigy masterpieces are displayed along the walls of his district office.

Prodigy served 314 Pinellas County, FL youth in the 2012-2013 grant year, and 173 from July – Sept. 2013. The five Prodigy locations in Pinellas County include Harbordale YMCA, Childs Park YMCA, Jim and Heather Gills YMCA, Meadowlawn Middle School and Maximo Elementary School. Classes such as visual arts, dance and keyboard provide a meaningful activity after school and on Saturdays.

Prodigy reached 3,204 youth in the recent grant year through a seven-county region, which includes Hillsborough, Manatee, Sarasota, Polk, Pasco, Pinellas and Orange. Dollar for dollar, Prodigy is one of the lowest costs per youth programs in the state of Florida and has an 89 percent non-recidivism rate. By diverting youth from moving deeper into the juvenile justice system, those at Prodigy believe they are in turn saving the state money, improving communities and truly transforms young lives.

Along with Dudley, Senators Jeff Brandes, Arthenia L. Joyner and Jack Latvala, as well as Representatives Larry Ahern, Ed Hooper, Kathleen Peters, Darryl Rouson and Carl Zimmerman were in attendance.

About Prodigy
Prodigy is a research‐based diversion, intervention, and prevention program that provides a safe arena where at risk youth ages 7-17 learn communication, problem‐solving and conflict resolution skills through visual and performing arts. Prodigy currently serves more than 3,000 youth in seven West Central Florida counties and is operated by the UACDC in Tampa. For more information about Prodigy, please visitwww.transformingyounglives.org.
About UACDC
The University Area Community Development Corporation, Inc. (UACDC) is a 501(c)(3) public/private partnership whose mission is children and family development, crime prevention, and commerce growth. Its primary focus is the redevelopment and sustainability of the at-risk areas surrounding the Tampa campus of the University of South Florida. The UACDC was named nonprofit of the year for public and societal benefit by the Tampa Bay Business Journal in 2011 and 2012. It is headquartered in the University Area Community Center Complex, owned by Hillsborough County and operated by the UACDC, which is located at 14013 North 22nd Street in Tampa. For more information about UACDC, please visit www.uacdc.org or call Dan Jurman at (813) 558-5212 ext. 208.

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