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Youth Violence - Youth Visionaries 2000 PHOTOCOPY RESERVATION Youth Visionaries 2000 YOUTH - February 22, 2000 Roosevelt Room 11:30 am - 12:15 pm YOUTH VISIUMENT ww Background Youth Vision is a program that was established in 1998 in partnership with the following organizations: Center for Youth As Resources (CYAR), Conflict Resolution Education Network (CREnet), National Crime Prevention Council (NCPC), Society of Professionals in Dispute Resolution (SPIDR), and Street Law, Inc. The Program's mission is to offer youth in the United States the opportunity to seek solutions to conflicts in their communities and schools and carry out their "vision" of an ideal community. Youth Vision issues an annual "Challenge" to young people between the ages of 9 and 22 to develop projects that address conflict, prejudice, or violence in their schools or communities. The Challenge is not a competition or contest, but simply a way for dedicated youth to receive resources to enhance leadership and community involvement in their neighborhoods. Every project submission receives recognition and the opportunity for assistance to develop the idea into a workable program, but a youth/adult Advisory Committee does select ten finalists (Youth Visionaries) who are eligible for grant money and technical assistance to launch their projects. Although the project ideas and development must be implemented by youth, the Program does provide adult guidance and support through Youth Vision staff called Adult Allies. The Youth Visionaries also attend a weekend-long leadership training retreat in Washington, D.C., and the Youth Visionaries 2000 will conclude their retreat with a visit to the White House tomorrow, February 22. Project Director Marge Baker (also a Senior Consultant at CREnet), several Adult Allies, and Eric Heydenberk and Simmona Woodson (Youth Vision finalists 1999) will accompany the year 2000 finalists to the White House. The 1999 Youth Visionaries met with Bruce Reed in the Roosevelt Room last year, and on a separate occasion, Eric and Simmona participated in the White House Youth Violence Summit last May. Eligibility and Guidelines: Submissions are open to individuals or groups of people between the ages of 9 and 22 and live in the United States; Ideas must come from a young person and be submitted by a young person; Project ideas must be original and new to the community; Project applicants must pledge to follow the idea through the stages to implementation; Project submissions must answer the following questions: What? - The idea; Why? - The problem; Who? - People the project will benefit; Where? - Location (school, community center, etc.); How? - Examples of activities to address the problem; and Success? - How success will be measured. Youth Vision Projects 2000: (Project summaries and Year 2000 Visionaries are attached.) Safe-Nite, Groove-Style; North Adams, Mass Fighting Drugs with Words; Brooklyn New York Cop Game; Brooklyn, New York Connecting Across Differences; Davis, California Harmony; Santa Barbara, California Peace Tour 2000; Wilmington, North Carolina Building Bridges Across State Borders; West Wendover, Nevada Mentor Program; Forest Lake, Minnesota Disabilities Game; Princeton, New Jersey Rhode Island Children's Crusade Mentoring Project; Providence, Rhode Island YEAR 2000 YOUTHVISIONARIES Jackie Davis, Rocio Boites, & Hannah Ban-Weiss Davis, CA John Foss & Alanna Radlo-Dzur Santa Barbara, CA The Grooove North Adams, MA Jessica Johnson & Anne Paulson Forest Lake, MN West Wendover Teen Council West Wendover, NV. Ramona Belfeore & Mollie Ayre Princeton, NJ Meghan Bean-Smith Wilmington, NC Leroy Fraser Brooklyn, NY Nirmala Kandhai Brooklyn, NY Rhode Island Children's Crusade Providence, RI Project Summaries PROJECT: Safe-Nite, Grooove-Style LOCATION: North Adams, Massachusetts PROBLEM SOLUTION We live in a community where there is not much for teens to do. A We want to organize an event for youth and adults in our lot of teens hang out in parking lots and cause trouble because community that would provide workshops to learn about violence there is nowhere else to go. There is a lot of mistrust between prevention and conflict resolution. We plan to link the workshops teens and adults, there are physical and verbal fights between to musical and other entertainment that we are currently teens, and vandalism of property. providing through coffeehouse events that have a track record in attracting area teens. PROJECT: Fighting Drugs with Words LOCATION: Brooklyn, New York PROBLEM SOLUTION Drug dealing is a major problem in my neighborhood. Neighbors It is important for the neighbors who care about the problem to have fried their best to rid the neighborhood of the drug traffic, join together and try to deal with it. I think it would help to begin but it is very difficult. The police come, but as soon as they leave a letter writing campaign to city of ficials, the police, and others the dealers return. It is particularly scary because they who can work with the neighbors to help do something about the frequently deal drugs in front of children in the neighborhood. problem. Year 2000 YouthVision Project Summaries I PROJECT: Cop Game LOCATION: Brooklyn, New York PROBLEM SOLUTION My neighborhood has a lot of problems with drug dealers, I would like to develop a game that would help show cops what it burglaries, and similar issues. Relationships between young people feels like to be stopped and searched for no cause at all. I think and police in the neighborhood are difficult - there is a lot of if the police understand this better it will improve things for the mistrust. All too of ten the police accuse young people of citizens and the police. committing crimes that they have nothing to do with. This makes things even worse between the police and the citizens. PROJECT: Connecting Across Differences LOCATION: Davis, California PROBLEM SOLUTION We have a.lot of diversity at our school with students from many We would like to develop a cultural diversity training for students cultural backgrounds. There are also many levels of income at our high school. We would also like some of the teachers at the represented at our high school. There are many evidences of school to attend. We will design a full day training. Some of the prejudice and intolerance showing up at our school: graf fiti on the activities will include: having participants complete their personal wall with words like "les," "fag," gay, "lame," and "retard;" remarks family trees and facilitating small group discussions about each students make in the hallways, etc. We also have fights at our student's heritage; conducting a session about Special Education, school. Full Inclusion, and living with disabilities; group exercises that sensitize participants to others' experiences; and a panel discussion on discrimination based on sexual orientation and homophobia. Year 2000 YouthVision Project Summaries 2 PROJECT: Harmony LOCATION: Santa Barbara, California PROBLEM SOLUTION Our community is a tourist town that puts a.lot of energy into We would like to build on some successful work that we are already projects that will attract visitors, but not enough into activities doing with young adults and teenagers in the area (including rival for teens. Many popular gathering places in town become gang members) to help them deal with what they are experiencing unfriendly to youth who gather there. Drug and alcohol use and by composing their own music - writing lyrics, composing all boredom often lead to crime and violence in the city: We also have different styles of music from rap, hip hop, techno, and rock to a fair amount of gang activity - from Latino and Chicano gangs to jazz and beyond. This will help them discover themselves and their white supremacist groups. talents. PROJECT: Peace Tour 2000 LOCATION: Wilmington, North Carolina PROBLEM SOLUTION My high school and schools in the surrounding area experience We propose to develop a forum for discussion to promote cultural conflict and violence that seem to grow out of misunderstanding diversity. In particular, our team plans to develop a training in and lack of trust among people of different races. peer mediation, anger management, conflict resolution, and cultural diversity. We then plan to deliver this training in schools around our community. Year 2000 YouthVision Project Summaries 3 PROJECT: Building Bridges Across State Borders LOCATION: West Wendover, Nevada PROBLEM SOLUTION We live in a school district that used to serve students from two We want to arrange for young people from both sides of the states. Four years ago, in part because of economic and political border to meet together and discuss problems within our dif ferences between-th two communities, two separate school community. We also hope that the groups will talk about possible districts were created, one for each state. Now there is serious solutions. We hope to have joint assemblies with both of the tension between the two schools:- there is deep-seated school schools, with motivational speakers, mediators, etc. throughout the rivalry reflecting a lack of respect between the two communities. school year. Afterwards, we would have fun activities that provide The rivalries even involve the parents. opportunities for students from both of the schools to learn to work together. PROJECT: Mentor Program LOCATION: Forest Lake, Minnesota PROBLEM SOLUTION Students transitioning from junior high school to high school need We want to start a mentoing program for upcoming Freshmen. In more support. These students have a hard time finding their place the spring, upcoming Juniors will be paired with upcoming Freshmen in the much larger high school and become overwhelmed: This-lack to work together on monthly community projects. This will give of support results in lower self-esteem and confidence which can Freshmen the opportunity to meet upper classmen with whom they lead to risky behaviors can identify the next year. The activities will also be valuable as community involvement projects. Year 2000 YouthVision Project Summaries 4 PROJECT: Disabilities Game LOCATION: Princeton, New Jersey PROBLEM SOLUTION Young people and adults need to know more about disabilities, HIV We want to create a fun game that will help teach important facts and AIDS. There is a lot of misunderstanding about these topics about disabilities, HIV, and AIDS to young people and adults who which can lead to stereotypes and préjudice. play the game. PROJECT: Rhode Island Children's Crusade Mentoring Project LOCATION: Providence, Rhode Island PROBLEM SOLUTION We are concerned about issues relating to high school culture. We We will hold seminars at the middle schools that feed the high are concerned that too many youth are dropping out of high school schools that we attend. The high school Crusaders will meet with because of violence, conflict and prejudice. We want to teach. the middle school Crusaders on a regular basis; we'll invite the middle school kids about high school and help them with the middle schoolers to shadow their high school counterparts. We'll transition. have a big party at the end to show how much we have learned. And we'll follow-up with the students to make sure they are feeling connected. Year 2000 YouthVision Project Summaries 5 Clinton Presidential Records Digital Records Marker This is not a presidential record. This is used as an administrative marker by the William J. Clinton Presidential Library Staff. This marker identifies the place of a publication. Publications have not been scanned in their entirety for the purpose of digitization. To see the full publication please search online or visit the Clinton Presidential Library's Research Room. TAKE THE GHALLENGE! Look FOR THE POSTER INCIDE YouthVision is coordinated by the Conflict Resolution Education Network (CREnet), the Center for Youth as Resources (CYAR), National Crime Prevention Council (NCPC), Society of Professionals in Dispute Resolution (SPIDR), and Street Law, Inc. WHO ARE THE YOUTHVISION PARTNERS? YouthVision is a partnership among the following organizations: CENTER FOR YOUTH As RESOURCES YAR The Center for Youth as Resources (CYAR) provides small grants to young people to design and carry out service projects that tackle a range of social issues that concern Youth as Resources youth-from health, housing, and education to drug abuse and crime. CONFLICT RESOLUTION EDUCATION NETWORK The Conflict Resolution Education Network (CREnet) is a membership association for educators and conflict resolution professionals who are dedicated to broadening and deepëning conflict resolution learning opportunities across the country. CREnet CREnet works to foster schools and communities that nurture nonviolent problem solving and prepare young people for responsible citizenship. NATIONAL CRIME PREVENTION COUNCIL The National Crime Prevention Council (NCPC) works to enable people to prevent crime and build safer, more caring communities. NCPC offers training, technical assistance, a national focus for crime prevention, and manages the nationally recoge CRIME nized McGruff "Take A Bite Out Of Crime" campaign. SOCIETY OF PROFESSIONALS IN DISPUTE RESOLUTION SPIDR The Society of Professionals in Dispute Resolution (SPIDR) is an international mem- SOCIETY OF bership association committed to the advancement of the highest standards of ethics PEOFESSIONALS IN DISPUTE and practice for dispute resolvers. SPIDR and its partners, through collaborative RESOLUTION youth initiatives, seek to involve youth in meaningful ways in the dispute resolution community. STREET LAW, INC. STREET LAW Street Law, Inc. creates powerful educational programs in the United States and around the world that draw real-world connections between the lives of young people and the law, human rights, conflict management, and democratic values. W WYOUTHVISION.NET Youth Visions INSIDE THIS ISSUE: Youth Leaders in Action! News From Mitro 2 Peace Leadership Council Exchanges For Changes Whocaresoniine.com 2 By Karen and Aaron By Christina 2 Since we left the training we have been hard My most exciting achievement definitely oc- Challenges at work getting ready for the big "kick-off" curred on September 30 when the program of- Peacemaking 3 event which is slowly creeping up on us on ficially kicked off and the two groups from St. Tips and Ideas 3 December 4. We have been putting in many Joseph Hill Academy and Curtis High School hours to get this off the ground and go off actually got together for the first time. My What's Happening 3 without a hitch. We don't know where all heart did a little dance because it was better Coming Soon 3 the time went. than I ever could have imagined. The two groups interacted, socialized and ate pizza to- Message Board 4 Webster Adult/Student Partnership gether. The Curtis principal came to greet us Visionary Faces and gave us a warm welcome. Everyone had a This project has narrowed its focus. It will great time playing cultural bingo and bridge- focus on 25 special educa- tion middle school students building games to prepare us for our role as leaders. mentoring in the Webster We presented the idea of business community. going through intensive Chelsey Wickmark is now mediation training on two a freshman at Maryland full Saturdays. I was nerv- University so the project ous that people would not has been passed on to want to come in on a week- Amanda Mohr. Welcome end. By the next day, to Youth Vision, Amanda! YouthVision in Cyberspace! every single slot was filled Judy Shelton has been working with Amanda to kick off the project and all permission slips returned. The feedback I got was that every- this fall. They will be presenting the pro- one had had such a good time at the first meet- Come visit YouthVision.com the gram to the Webster Chamber of Commerce, talking to all the 9th grade special education ing that they were looking forward to spending Web! We-just posted a new more time together. Web site checkfusiout students, hosting a meeting for interested students, and training business mentors. and let us know what you Lights Camera Take Action! think! News From Alaska By Raven www.youthvision.net Our Alaskan friends, Natasha and Vicki, The Grace Community Drama Workshop pro- ject is going strong! We are will be going to wrote an email to say hello and let us know local schools and holding our drama work- that they have recently moved. They have shops so that more youth will become in- ordered some materials and are working on volved. We had a good turn out at the first getting their funding. session but we want even more people to come out and see what we're doing. The youth were really receptive and open. ISSUE I News From Nitro By Tara Our biggest challenge for our talk show was where to start. Nobody in the Student Helper Network had any clue how to The Student Helper Network of Nitro High School in put on our very own talk show. We decided that the best Nitro, West Virginia has had great success with our talk way to do this was to form teams and assign a task to each show, "Talk of the Town: Making Cliques Click". The team. For instance, we have a writer team that writes all publicity we received for attending the training in April the scripts for the show. We have a set design team that is helped a lot with getting others involved and giving us a working on the backdrops for our show. We also have a helping hand. We were in several newspaper articles, camera crew, and a floor crew that work on the set to make interviewed on news channels, and appeared on the sure that everything is in order. We were also worried Charles Grodin Show. The teachers and faculty have about the attitudes and responses towards the show from the worked well with us and we really appreciate that. Our students. first show was kind of hectic but it was totally awesome. We have many things to look forward to in the future of our A local news station invited us to come and tape our first project. We hope to eventually build our own studio here at show and it was a huge success. We all enjoyed our- Nitro High. So far, we have had the help and support of selves and the show was great! We appreciate the en- WSAZ News who has agreed to let our Student Helper Net- couragement from everyone and we hope everyone and work use their studio and their equipment for the taping of their projects are going well. our show. They are also showing us how to use the equip- ment so in the future we can do this on our own. The great- By Steven est thing that we would like to accomplish with our project So far our talk show has been a success. We have aired is to help make a difference at our school. We hope that the one show and our next show will be aired November 5th. number of fights and conflicts at our school will start to de- crease after the students view this show and see how we all Our most exciting achievement has been to successfully aren't so different after all. air a talk show and the positive responses that we have received from the students here at Nitro High. Whocaresonline.com By Eric and Adrienne will continue to work on and add to as time passes. As of We have had now it has three main parts. These parts are: The Kids Can "Our most important accomplishment has been many things Award where kids can nominate and vote for other kids publishing the site." happen since and adults who are doing great things in their community - the training in check out Karen Lovell, our first winner; the Who Cares April. We have Resource List where kids can find other sites like ours; been on the Philadelphia ABC Nightly News and in and the Conflict Resolution area - where kids can go to newspapers. We have talked to teachers who want to use learn how to resolve and prevent conflicts and teachers can our site as a teaching resource. But our most important go to get Kid Created Conflict Curriculum. accomplishment has been publishing the site, which we Challenges Persuading others how the project will work, and convincing them that Westminster Ambassa- Trying to plan and get our first show. It's been a dors of Peace is a youth program that focuses on ? hectic start this year, especially because our sponsor is non-violence. -Arthur moving to North Carolina. -Tara Actually getting started has been a big challenge. I I have to admit that getting everything together was think it's easy to lose sight of how much work is actually rather daunting at the beginning. -Christina involved. -Raven Congratulations to all Youth Visionaries for working Our biggest difficulties have been computer prob- through the many challenges that come along the way. lems. We have gone through two computer crashes and Check out our web site for some suggestions on handling other smaller difficulties. -Eric and Adrienne some of these challenges. Visit us at www.youthvision.net. ISSUE I Peacemaking for a Stronger Community Westminster Ambassadors of Peace By Arthur pursuit of peace, that pursuit must go on." John F. Kennedy, 1963 Westminster Ambassadors of Peace has been moving forward since our last meeting in April. Since then, we Westminster Ambassadors of Peace has taken a long time to have received a strong response among youth in the form. But, I believe its foundation has been created because neighborhood and community. With support from our youth already have voiced a strong interest. Our plan for Marge Baker, our adult ally, we have the following year is to involve youth in our been able to receive approval for our youth workshop so they can learn skills in con- facility to conduct our one-day monthly flict resolution education and violence preven- workshops. At the same time, we are tion through drama monologues that involve sce- working with educators in the commu- narios on anger, and prejudice which they them- nity who have voiced a strong concern selves act out! for the project and its success in the fu- ture. It's a new approach we have created to allow youth to have fun! Good luck to all YouthVi- "Peace is a daily, a weekly, a monthly sionaries and your projects. Please contact me if process, gradually changing opinions, you need suggestions or advice on your project slowly eroding old barriers, quietly at 714-373-9555. building new structures. And however undramatic the Tips and Ideas from YouthVisionaries I've learned that "piggybacking" is the way to go. Our advice is "If you put your heart in it the possibilities are I've already doubled my funding because I've asked endless, but listen to what you hear from your peers and oth- people in the community to help. I've also learned that ers and change direction if necessary". we shouldn't be afraid to ask for help. The worst thing -Eric and Adrienne that could happen is that they might say no. So much Don't be afraid to use your persuasion skills and ask for more can be accomplished through collaboration. We help. -Tara can do so much more with our money if we also get out- side help. -Christina We have learned that you should always allow more time to do something than you think will be needed. We have Always target your goal. Whether it be getting ap- also learned that the best way to get something done is to proval for your program among leaders, teachers, or stu- work together and come up with a schedule for everything dents. Be persistent and use your Youth Vision road that has to be done. On more of a humorous note, we have map. -Arthur also learned that whenever you start to film a show, make The Webster, NY group is being reasonable about the sure that you have a tape in the camera first. -Steven number of participants and duration of the project - they Stay committed!!! This is hard work but it's worth it! consider this their pilot year. They will monitor what Raven happens this year and make adjustments. What's Happening? Coming Soon! News from YouthVision Staff Upcoming Events Our biggest news is that we are now online! Visit your Arthur is planning a one-day workshop to educate youth on new web site at www.youthvision.net. You'll see parts conflict resolution and improved communication between of this newsletter online soon! youth and adults Eric and Adrienne plan to add more Kid Created Curriculum and have more contests. They are going Also, the Advisory Committee was in DC on November to start working with about 100 kids to create real life con- 19 - 21 to select the next proposals that will receive flict scenarios and resolutions Nitro High School is hop- funding from Youth Vision. As always, all youth who ing to air their show once a month and some of them have submit proposals to YouthVision will receive assistance been asked to teach a workshop on projects like this at semi- in getting their project started. nars VISI NARY FACES YouthVision do Street Law, Inc. 1600 NW #602 Washington DC 20006 Phone: 3-0088 Fax:202-293-0089 Arthur meets with his adult ally Nancy Jenkins. Email: sbray @streethw.org YOUTH VISIONS We're on the web! www.youthvision.net Nitro High School set crew making preparations. Exchanges For Changes MESSAGE BOARD I miss everyone and send me some mail!!! we'd like to say hello to all our Youthvision friends and - Tara ask everyone to us give some of your best conflict scenarios for our site. if you have someone to nominate for The kids The Student Helper Network would like to wish all of the can Award please Let us know. Youthvisionaries out there the best of luck on their projects Eric and Adrienne and helping to make a difference. - Steven I feel like we're really special young people. I Look at it like we're seeds who've been thrown back into our communities keep sending updates for the newsletter to street Law! to do good. The training we received in Washington is now Thanks to everyone who wrote in-we are so pleased that so having a rippling effect on the whole country. It's great to many of you responded. Next time Let's hear from every- know that the future of our country is really held in our one! we also received some great pictures-look for even hands, and Youthvision has given us the tools to make a more of these on the web site at www.youthvision.net. positive difference. The mediation training that my group -YouthVision staff received really put some things in perspective. we, as a group and individually, will take our skills back to our Good News!!! schools and we will become the peacemakers in our own er- You will have the opportunity to apply to come back to the vironments. When we see people being Left out or made fun Youthvision training this year! we have a limited number of, we will be the ones who quietly remind our friends to do of spots so Look out for an application in the mail soon. the right thing. Youthvision has empowered us to make a You'll have a chance to Learn more and present your project difference! -Christina to the new Youthvisionaries. YouthVision staff December 14, 1999 Mr. Bruce Reed Assistant to the President For Domestic Policy The White House 2ⁿᵈ Floor, West Wing CREnet CONFLICT RESOLUTION EDUCATION NETWORK Washington, D.C. 20502 1527 NEW HAMPSHIRE AVENUE, NW WASHINGTON, DC 20036 202-667-9700 Dear Bruce: www.crenet.org [email protected] I'm excited to send you a copy of the attached press NATIONAL CRIME PREVENTION COUNCIL 1700 K STREET, NW. SECOND FLOOR release announcing the Year 2000 Youth Visionaries. As you WASHINGTON, DC 20006 202-466-6272 will see this new group of young people, age 11 - 20, follows www.ncpc.org in the exemplary tradition of Eric Heydenberk, Simonna [email protected] Woodson and others from last year's finalists! STREET LAW, INC. 918 16TH STREET NW, SUITE 602 WASHINGTON DC 20006 The project ideas selected this year include a game to 202-293-0088 www.streetlaw.org address misunderstanding and prejudice about HIV, AIDS, and [email protected] disabilities; peer mentoring programs to help young people make a successful transition to high school; cultural diveristy and conflict resolution training workshops; a game to help improve youth/police relationships, and workshops to help young people address conflict and violence by writing and performing their own musical compositions. We will be holding our annual Leadership Training on Cashy- February 19th - 22ⁿᵈ at Galludet University. We would maybe welcome the opportunity once again to have you meet this stellar group of young people whose wisdom about how to deal Eric with problems we face - and whose commitment to make a or difference in dealing with those problems - is unsurpassed. our new I will follow up shortly to see if we might be able to arrange a visit in February. Best wishes to you for a wonderful yoth idea holiday season. director Warm regards, may Baker Youth Vision Director cc. John Podesta, Chief of Staff to the President Karin Kullman, Domestic Policy Council PHOTOCOPY PRESERVATION PRESS RELEASE December 14, 1999 Contact: Marge Baker For Immediate Release Project Director 301-365-4514 YOUTHVISION ANNOUNCES SELECTION OF YEAR 2000 NATIONAL FINALISTS YouthVision today announced the selection of its Year 2000 National Finalists. YouthVisionaries from the ten finalist sites submitted ideas for creative projects to deal with problems they were seeing in their schools or communities. The youth will now receive technical assistance from YouthVision staff to help make their ideas a reality, will be invited to attend this year's Take the Challenge Leadership Training in Washington, D.C. February 19th - 22ⁿᵈ, , and will be eligible to receive start- up funding to help launch their projects. The project ideas selected include a game to address misunderstanding and prejudice about HIV, AIDS, and disabilities; peer mentoring programs to help young people make a successful transition to high school; cultural diversity and conflict resolution training workshops; a game to help improve youth/police relationships, and workshops to help young people address conflict and violence by writing and performing their own musical compositions. YouthVision, a new national initiative begun in 1998, issues an annual Challenge inviting youth to submit ideas for addressing conflict, prejudice or violence in their schools or communities. Every creative and thoughtful submission receives recognition and the opportunity for assistance in helping the idea grow into a workable project. Those selected as finalists attend a national training in Washington, D.C. and receive start-up money for their projects. This year YouthVision received submissions from young people in 14 states, ranging in age from 11 to 20. A national youth/adult Advisory Committee selected the ten finalists at a weekend-long meeting at the end of November. YouthVision is a collaborative initiative of five organizations: Street Law, Inc., the Center for Youth as Resources (CYAR), the Conflict Resolution Education Network (CREnet), the National Crime Prevention Council (NCPC), and the Society of Professionals in Dispute Resolution (SPIDR). It is supported in part with funds from the Levi Strauss and Company Foundation. "In is absolutely awe inspiring to see how much young people care about making a difference in their communities and how insightful they are about how to make that difference," said Marge Baker the YouthVision project director. "We are extremely excited about this program. Daily action that fosters a civil society is at the core of our mission," said Ed O'Brien, Executive Director of Street Law, Inc. "It is extremely important to understanding the value of young people as assets to their communities and as leaders in their own right. YouthVision brings that lesson home," said Marilyn Bassett, Executive Director of the Center for Youth as Resources. Visit the YouthVision website, www.youthvision.net for a complete list of the Year 2000 YouthVision National Finalists and a description of their project ideas. For more information on the YouthVision project contact: Marge Baker Project Director 9301 Kentsdale Drive Potomac, MD 20854 301/365-4514 (phone) 301/365-4584 (fax) [email protected] Or visit the YouthVision website at www.youthvision.net What is YouthVision ? YouthVision is a unique program offering young people the opportunity to design creative ways to resolve problems. Once a year YouthVision issues a Challenge inviting youth to submit their ideas for projects that address conflict, prejudice or violence in their school or community. Every creative and thoughtful submission receives recognition and the opportunity for assistance in helping the idea grow into a workable project. Some Youth Visionaries also attend a national training conference in Washington, D.C. and receive start-up money for their projects. YouthVision is not a competition or essay writing contest. It is more than a way to get resources for a project. Those who choose to become involved with YouthVision become part of a community that believes in the value and power of youth leadership. YouthVision is open to individuals or groups of people between the ages of 9 and 22 who live in the U.S. The ideas must come from and be submitted by a young person, who is committed to following through to turn the idea into an actual project. Adults play an important role in YouthVision, working in partnership with youth, providing guidance and feedback, but accepting the young people's leadership role. Begun in 1998, YouthVision is a collaborative initiative of five organizations: the Conflict Resolution Education Network (CREnet), the Center for Youth as Resources (CYAR), the National Crime Prevention Council (NCPC), the Society of Professionals in Dispute Resolution (SPIDR), and Street Law, Inc. For more information contact Marge Baker at CREnet: 1527 New Hampshire Ave, N.W. Washington, D.C. 20036 202-667-9700, ext. 220 [email protected] December 14, 1999 Mr. Bruce Reed Assistant to the President For Domestic Policy The White House 2ⁿᵈ Floor, West Wing CREnet CONFLICT RESOLUTION EDUCATION NETWORK Washington, D.C. 20502 1527 NEW HAMPSHIRE AVENUE, NW WASHINGTON, DC 20036 202-667-9700 Dear Bruce: www.crenet.org [email protected] I'm excited to send you a copy of the attached press NATIONAL CRIME PREVENTION COUNCIL 1700 K STREET, NW, SECOND FLOOR release announcing the Year 2000 YouthVisionaries. As you WASHINGTON, DC 20006 202-466-6272 will see this new group of young people, age 11 - 20, follows www.ncpc.org in the exemplary tradition of Eric Heydenberk, Simonna [email protected] Woodson and others from last year's finalists! STREET LAW, INC. 918 16TH STREET. NW, SUITE 602 WASHINGTON, DC 20006 The project ideas selected this year include a game to 202-293-0088 www.streetlaw.org address misunderstanding and prejudice about HIV, AIDS, and [email protected] disabilities; peer mentoring programs to help young people make a successful transition to high school; cultural diveristy and conflict resolution training workshops; a game to help improve youth/police relationships, and workshops to help young people address conflict and violence by writing and performing their own musical compositions. We will be holding our annual Leadership Training on Cashy- February 19th - 22ⁿᵈ at Galludet University. We would maybe welcome the opportunity once again to have you meet this stellar group of young people whose wisdom about how to deal Eric with problems we face - and whose commitment to make a or difference in dealing with those problems - is unsurpassed. our new I will follow up shortly to see if we might be able to arrange a visit in February. Best wishes to you for a wonderful holiday season. yoth director Warm regards, may Baker Baka YouthVision Director cc. John Podesta, Chief of Staff to the President Karin Kullman, Domestic Policy Council PRESS RELEASE December 14, 1999 Contact: Marge Baker For Immediate Release Project Director 301-365-4514 CREnet CONFLICT RESOLUTION EDUCATION NETWORK 1527 NEW HAMPSHIRE AVENUE, NW WASHINGTON, DC 20036 YOUTHVISION ANNOUNCES 202-667-9700 www.crenet.org [email protected] SELECTION OF YEAR 2000 NATIONAL NATIONAL CRIME PREVENTION COUNCIL FINALISTS 1700 K STREET, NW, SECOND FLOOR WASHINGTON, DC 20006 202-466-6272 www.ncpc.org Youth Vision today announced the selection of its Year 2000 [email protected] National Finalists. Youth Visionaries from the ten finalist sites STREET LAW, INC. submitted ideas for creative projects to deal with problems 918 16TH STREET. NW, SUITE 602 WASHINGTON. DC 20006 they were seeing in their schools or communities. The youth 202-293-0088 will now receive technical assistance from Youth Vision staff www.streetlaw.org [email protected] to help make their ideas a reality, will be invited to attend this year's Take the Challenge Leadership Training in Washington, D.C. February 19th - 22ⁿᵈ, , and will be eligible to receive start- up funding to help launch their projects. The project ideas selected include a game to address misunderstanding and prejudice about HIV, AIDS, and disabilities; peer mentoring programs to help young people make a successful transition to high school; cultural diversity and conflict resolution training workshops; a game to help improve youth/police relationships, and workshops to help young people address conflict and violence by writing and performing their own musical compositions. Youth Vision, a new national initiative begun in 1998, issues an annual Challenge inviting youth to submit ideas for addressing conflict, prejudice or violence in their schools or communities. Every creative and thoughtful submission receives recognition and the opportunity for assistance in helping the idea grow into a workable project. Those selected as finalists attend a national training in Washington, D.C. and receive start-up money for their projects. This year Youth Vision received submissions from young people in 14 states, ranging in age from 11 to 20. A national youth/adult Advisory Committee selected the ten finalists at a weekend-long meeting at the end of November. YouthVision is a collaborative initiative of five organizations: Street Law, Inc., the Center for Youth as Resources (CYAR), the Conflict Resolution Education Network (CREnet), the National Crime Prevention Council (NCPC), and the Society of Professionals in Dispute Resolution (SPIDR). It is supported in part with funds from the Levi Strauss and Company Foundation. CREnet CONFLICT RESOLUTION EDUCATION NETWORK 1527 NEW HAMPSHIRE AVENUE, NW "It is absolutely awe inspiring to see how much young people WASHINGTON, DC 20036 202-667-9700 care about making a difference in their communities and how www.crenet.org [email protected] insightful they are about how to make that difference," said Marge Baker the YouthVision project director. "We are NATIONAL CRIME PREVENTION COUNCIL 1700 K STREET. NW. SECOND FLOOR extremely excited about this program. Daily action that fosters WASHINGTON, DC 20006 202-466-6272 a civil society is at the core of our mission," said Ed O'Brien, www.ncpc.org Executive Director of Street Law, Inc. "It is extremely [email protected] important to understanding the value of young people as assets STREET LAW, INC. 918 16TH STREET, NW, SUITE 602 to their communities and as leaders in their own right. WASHINGTON, DC 20006 Youth Vision brings that lesson home," said Marilyn Bassett, 202-293-0088 www.streetlaw.org Executive Director of the Center for Youth as Resources. [email protected] Visit the YouthVision website, www.youthvision.net for a complete list of the Year 2000 YouthVision National Finalists and a description of their project ideas. For more information on the YouthVision project contact: Marge Baker Project Director 9301 Kentsdale Drive Potomac, MD 20854 301/365-4514 (phone) 301/365-4584 (fax) [email protected] Or visit the YouthVision website at www.youthvision.net What is YouthVision ? Youth Vision is a unique program offering young people the opportunity to design creative ways to resolve problems. Once a year Youth Vision issues a Challenge inviting youth to submit their ideas for projects CREnet CONFLICT RESOLUTION EDUCATION NETWORK that address conflict, prejudice or violence in their school 1527 NEW HAMPSHIRE AVENUE, NW WASHINGTON, DC 20036 or community. 202-667-9700 www.crenet.org [email protected] Every creative and thoughtful submission receives NATIONAL CRIME PREVENTION COUNCIL recognition and the opportunity for assistance in helping 1700 K STREET, NW, SECOND FLOOR the idea grow into a workable project. Some WASHINGTON, DC 20006 202-466-6272 Youth Visionaries also attend a national training www.ncpc.org [email protected] conference in Washington, D.C. and receive start-up money for their projects. STREET LAW, INC. 918 16TH STREET, NW, SUITE 602 WASHINGTON, DC 20006 202-293-0088 Youth Vision is not a competition or essay writing www.streetlaw.org contest. It is more than a way to get resources for a [email protected] project. Those who choose to become involved with Youth Vision become part of a community that believes in the value and power of youth leadership. Youth Vision is open to individuals or groups of people between the ages of 9 and 22 who live in the U.S. The ideas must come from and be submitted by a young person, who is committed to following through to turn the idea into an actual project. Adults play an important role in Youth Vision, working in partnership with youth, providing guidance and feedback, but accepting the young people's leadership role. Begun in 1998, YouthVision is a collaborative initiative of five organizations: the Conflict Resolution Education Network (CREnet), the Center for Youth as Resources (CYAR), the National Crime Prevention Council (NCPC), the Society of Professionals in Dispute Resolution (SPIDR), and Street Law, Inc. For more information contact Marge Baker at CREnet: 1527 New Hampshire Ave, N.W. Washington, D.C. 20036 202-667-9700, ext. 220 [email protected]