BATON ROUGE - The city of Baton Rouge and community partners will hold a series of meetings beginning Tuesday as a part of a federal grant program designed to reduce crime in six North Baton Rouge communities.

The city was awarded a Bryne Criminal Justice Innovation Grant in 2014 to address chronic crime problems in Istrouma, Midtown, Eden Park, Greenville Extension, Smiley Heights and Melrose East.

The grant is one of the U.S. Department of Justice’s programs under the White House Neighborhood Revitalization Initiative that seeks to decrease a community’s criminal activity by eliminating factors that contribute to criminal and illegal behavior.

Some of the other problems noticed in the community are blight, lack of collaboration with residents and community organizations, lack of youth activities and programs, unemployment and under employment, and the need for a better relationship with residents and law enforcement.

Below are the dates and locations of the community meetings:

Tuesday, Mar. 22, at 5 p.m.
Friendship Capitol High School,
1000 N. 23rd St, Baton Rouge, LA 70802

Monday, March 28, at 4 p.m.
BREC’s Saia Park
855 North Donmoor Ave., Baton Rouge, La 70815

Wednesday, March 30 at 4 p.m. BREC’s Gus Young Park
4200 Gus Young Ave., Baton Rouge, LA 70802