Nominated by the Northside Planning Council

Haywood Simmons came to the Northside through the Safe & Thriving Community initiative, a collaborative effort to reduce youth violence. He was originally involved with the Center for Community Stewardship Police & Resident Dialogue Circle program. Haywood also served as a facilitator and mentor for the Youth Police Initiative, a hugely popular week-long experience for teens and police officers to build relationships and learn about each other’s experiences. Haywood brings his skills as a facilitator, a trainer and a mindfulness practitioner, as well as his understanding of health and nutrition, to every setting he’s in. 

In July then-Lieutenant Kelly O’Donohue and North District Captain Brian Ackeret approached Northside service providers to ask for assistance with a potentially volatile situation involving youth at the McDonald’s on Dryden Drive. Haywood, through his organization, Coach’s Club, agreed to step up and be present daily to de-escalate the growing conflict. Haywood brought other adult mentors, along with food, jump ropes, boxing gloves and drums. He and his team got to know the youth there and calmed the situation. We went from having daily police calls to not a single call for the remainder of the summer. Haywood helped avert a potential tragedy and helped us gain a better understanding of how to mentor young people and provide constructive, calming alternatives.