NAACP Youth, Hutch police gather for bridge building, barbecue

Friday afternoon, Rice Park shimmered with heat waves and color as children played lawn games, picked out face painting designs and jumped in a bouncy house. But the relaxed environment also served as a meeting space for Hutchinson police officers and NAACP Youth members to bring their families to learn the names and stories of the others. The Bridgebuilders BBQ was a new event hosted by the youth and HPD as a way to foster connections. “There’s some team building activities, but we just wanted to all have fun together,” said Heather Jobe, NAACP Youth sponsor.