Community Forum's to Build A Comprehensive Youth Violence Prevention Strategy

OUR COMMUNITY, OUR SOLUTIONS TO YOUTH VIOLENCE

The following information was gathered from participants at both sessions of the Shannon Grant Community Forum on November 10, 2009.  These action plans/strategies were created to help the youth in our community be the best they can be.  The plans/strategies were then voted on and the top 3 have been starred (*) below.  The information has been broken down into previously identified Themes and combined with a Brockton’s Promise Team or other Committee/Agency.  The Themes that do not have a Responsible Party(ies) listed are still in need of a group and/or community agency to address the listed strategies.  If you are interested in more information about this forum or how you can help this initiative, please call Michele Streitmater at 508-897-5371 or email at michele@brocktonpolice.com

 
Marketing of Existing Resources and Community Education
(Brockton’s Promise Steering Committee)

Responsible Party(ies): Not identified

Ø  Annual 1-pager to go to families with basic agency information (website,
     phone number, type of services).  Each organization has a contact person to
     be responsible for getting the right information to the Steering Committee

Ø  Create Youth-geared website = Use radio, TV, texts, and resource fairs to
    advertise about the website (Brockton’s Promise Steering Committee and
    Artists for Humanities to coordinate this effort)

 Activities
(Safe Places Promise Team)

Responsible Party(ies): Youth Works

Ø  Creation of a North side Teen Center – Open the doors for 6:00pm at North
    Junior High School.  Utilize paid supervisor to coordinate/oversee the Center
     and use Stonehill College and Bridgewater State College students to volunteer
(will need to recruit other volunteers as well).  Will also collaborate with
 programs/agencies that have existing grant funding (i.e. Housing Authority). 

Ø  Expand Brockton After Dark to be on weekends during the school year (pilot
   the program during winter time months) – Increase sport offerings, include
  after-school tutoring, partner with the city parks, expand ages to include children under age 13.

Ø  * Hold dance, arts, sporting, and cultural activities – Involve churches, Boys and Girls Club, local businesses, and Neighborhood Health Center in this endeavor

Work Experience
(Effective Education)

Responsible Party(ies): School Personnel, Youth, Guidance, School Elected Official

Ø  Incorporate Technical Programs in the Schools

Ø  Have retired people act as mentors for youth interested in the retiree’s former industry

Ø  Intern placement program

Ø  Community agencies commit to a 6-month internship program for 2 youth – Job readiness intake person and job development needed for this too (BAWIB has YES! Initiative which may be able to fund some of this)

Ø  Visible marketing in schools about after school job readiness programs

Ø  Have electives available that are career focused and ability to use study hall time for job readiness as well

Ø  Student Council

Ø  Allow computer access for job awareness websites and have workshops after school

Community Involvement
(Shannon Grant Steering Committee)

Responsible Party(ies): Not identified

Ø  Youth Court used as alternative to criminal justice system (based on Bristol County model)

Ø  Mock Trials and Remediation (Taunton High School is good example)

Ø  Expand summer jobs to be year long by reaching out to area businesses

Ø  * “Own Your Own City” = Have businesses, youth and agencies coordinate this endeavor.  Youth get “debit cards” to use at City businesses who accept the card (use their school ID’s for this?).  The business is a “Business Champion”

Ø  Youth in Arts drawing contest – shows pride and supports youth interactions

Ø  Breakdown geographical designation (i.e. north, south, east, west)

Ø  Schools serve all youth in program

 Mentoring/ Volunteerism
(Caring Adults and Opportunity to Help Others)

Responsible Party(ies): Council on Aging, Brockton’s Promise Team, Youth Organizations 

Ø  * Recruitment of male mentors of color and increased training – Include packet of information on Brockton’s Promise.  Also coordinate with the organizations and businesses for them to give employees time-due/time-off in exchange for volunteer hours.  Work on in-kind transportation for kids (example – BSC students having access to school vans and being able to use them to transport students)  

Ø  Intergenerational mentoring – Elders and college students to mentor young people.  Have retired business owners mentor on how they “did it”, etc.  This helps show hope for youth in life longevity.

             Community Members are encouraged to use this
                 site as a source of information regarding the
                    Shannon Grant and it's related activities.