“It’s time for the next generation to step up and take the reins and there’s really nothing quite like CIVIC to prepare them for that opportunity. With world class speakers, candid conversation about the issues and class members who command the assets and resources to bring to bear on the challenges that face us, CIVIC is making a tremendous difference in the future of the region.”
Bud Ramey may be retiring, but it’s just possible he’s in for the most productive years of his life. After spending nearly 40 years in public relations, marketing and development at Riverside Health System, and winning his industry’s award, Bud is hanging up his corporate suit for a new passion: showing communities how they can deal effectively with gangs.
During his tenure with Riverside, Bud helped guide $250,000 a year from Riverside to a free clinic in the southeast section of Newport News. No stranger to community endeavors, Bud was a co-founder and driving force behind People to People, a community dialogue organization now in its 20th year. People from all walks of life have come together to talk about race relations and quality of life but it was when the focus turned to gang prevention that Bud knew the country needed a “best practices” manual for dealing with the problem.
In association with Bobby Kipper, founder of the National Center for the Prevention of Community Violence, Bud wrote “No Colors,” which focuses on communities with winning strategies to combat gangs. The FBI’s National Gang Threat Assessment shows a 40% increase in gang membership in the last two years alone. With more than 1.4 million gang members nationwide, the report shows that gangs are no longer confined to urban areas. “Police cannot handle it alone and we can’t win this with arrests.” Ultimately, it’s about community leaders, parents, business leaders, civic groups and the faith community working together to stem a lethal epidemic.
