Susie Squires compiles information for the Watchful Eye Foundation which publishes Variety Variedad, a magazine that tracks child predators. (Staff photo by Jerry Mennenga)
Volunteer's work keeps tabs on sex offenders *see link bar - Sioux City Journal
By Joanne Fox, Journal staff writer
SOUTH SIOUX CITY -- Susie Squires made a promise to God following a bout with cancer four years ago.
"I told Him if he would save me, I would do something with my life," she shared.
That something resulted in the Watchful Eye Foundation, an organization dedicated to protecting children from child predators.
The specific impetus came from the abuse and murder of 5-year-old Samantha Runnion of Stanton, Calif. in 2002.
"I looked at that little girl and she so resembled one of my twin daughters when she was that age that it was eerie," Squires recalled. "I could just see that face over and over in my mind."
Squires began noticing that every time she picked up a newspaper or turned on the television, another child was suffering the same horrific fate of Samantha Runnion.
"I knew this had to stop," she insisted.
So, despite the fact that her own children were young adults, Squires set out to be the voice for kids.
Her first step was to publish Variety Variedad magazine, which printed the names, photos, descriptions and addresses for every registered sex offender living in the tri-state communities.
"I had no experience in any of this," she said gesturing to the publications. "I made up a dummy which I took to businesses, asking them to believe in me and help me by advertising in the magazine."
Enough people did believe and the bimonthly magazine came out in November 2005. In addition to the information about the predators, the magazine also includes recipes, stories, children's activities, and other general interest articles, in both English and Spanish.
"If you only speak Spanish, you have no access to information about sex offenders because you can't read English," Squires explained. "I speak Spanish so I know how important this is to the Hispanic community."
She knew her decision to go bilingual was the right one when a Hispanic woman shared that she and her husband worked hard to buy a house, only to discover later through the magazine that a convicted sex offender lived across the street, Squires said.
"All this family wanted to do was live the American dream and to put it point blank, what happened to them, that's just wrong," she added. "Now she can't let her kids out of her sight for fear of what might happen."
On the heels of the magazine, Squires established the Watchful Eye Foundation, a nonprofit corporation that provides safety education for children, such as the Detour program that provides a soccer club, the Runaway Teens program which disseminates fliers to assist in help finding a child and the Yello Dino program that teaches young children to stay safe.
"I liked the Watchful Eye idea about keeping an eye on kids, but I also liked the first two letters were 'w' and 'e' which spells 'we,'" she explained. "We, as a community, need to all be involved."
About a year ago, Squires obtained an office at 1910 Dakota Ave. for an after-school program that provides a safe place for children, 12-17, who might be at risk. In mid-October of last year, Squires discovered a number of registered sex offenders were living at a mobile home court. She organized a walk-through, distributing copies of the magazine and telling residents about the offenders.
The magazine, which is distributed free, the information, the programs are all the result of volunteers, including Squires who donates about 60 hours a week of her time and talent.
Recently, Squires organized a discussion on gangs in the tri-state area.
"We are seeing a lot of graffiti right now," she said. "We've organized some of those kids from the after-school program to help paint over the graffiti."
For as open as she was about the organization, Squires was reluctant to have her photo taken to accompany the article or to share much personal information.
"I've gotten threats," she confessed. "Remember I'm revealing information about criminals who could target me or my family."
More details on the organization can be found by visiting either the magazine's Web site at www.varietyvariedad.com or Watchful Eye's Web site at www.wefusa.com
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pat wrote on Jun 4, 2007 9:50 PM:
" You are our local hero believe me someone needs to speak for our kids. More need to join in how can we help and where can we find this magizine? "
LM wrote on Jun 4, 2007 10:11 AM:
" THANK YOU! As a victim myself, I am grateful to people like you who take this seriously. Molestations should be on everyone's, especially parent's, to help list. Just because this is so common, doesn't mean we should just accept it and move on...this affects the victim their whole life, sometimes RUINING their lives....Susie is an inspiration and I hope everyone who has taken her mission for granted sees that this is possibly the greatest mission! Thank you, Susie! "
COLLEEN wrote on Jun 4, 2007 3:01 AM:
" I THINK THIS A GREAT THING YOU ARE DOING. WE NEED MORE PEOPLE LIKE YOU IN SOUTH SIOUX CITY AND THE AREA AROUND US. KEEP UP THE GOOD WORK "
1 comment:
Susie isn't just an inspiration, she is a ROLE MODEL and motivator for people of all ages! Given the enormous time and energy she has dedicated to helping kids and educating us all----don't you think she deserves some FUNDING to continue this amazing project??? In a community as close knit as South Sioux City and surrounding areas, surely we can muster up support for the sake of our kids?! Business owners, even a $100 contribution would go a long way in providing these caring services for kids!! Susie doesn't know I am writing this and she surely didn't ask me to raise funds for Watchful Eye----but I have to tell you, if anybody deserves community support it is Watchful Eye and Susie! Think about it. Think about what will be lost if she can no longer operate this program. Think about the kids. ------Amy H.
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