A young, African American male would have had a better chance of survival descending from a landing barge in Italy during WWII than he does getting off a Greyhound bus in a major U.S. city today. This according to Bob Woodson, president of the Center for Neighborhood Enterprise, which has created Violence Free Zones that are having dramatic effect turning around some of the most dangerous cities across the country. These Violence Free Zones (VFZ) have changed the lives of children, many of whom were involved with gang activity, sold drugs, and pushed their education to the back-burner prior to encountering VFZ
Yesterday, in a summit on youth violence held in Washington, D.C., Woodson and his team of youth mentors explained what makes their approach so effective, and what differentiates them from other programs. The Center for Neighborhood Enterprise partners with community-based organizations – groups that are already well-established in a community and know the local players – and then provides those organizations with the information they need to stamp out the violence plaguing their neighborhoods. Woodson notes:
These natural community leaders are like antibodies developed by the body itself. They operate in different cultural zip codes than the professional educational establishment. Trusted by the students, they offer a source of emotional support. They act as moral mentors and character coaches, and they are role models that prove that no matter how dysfunctional the environment, it is possible to succeed.
Student mentors in many cases act as de-facto family members, and as such, must be available 24/7. Much of the success of the Violence Free Zone initiative is achieved because mentors are still available to students on the weekends. If a student finds himself in trouble on a Saturday night, that trouble is likely to follow them to school Monday morning, as school administrators at the conference attested to. Having their mentor available every day, all day, helps to diffuse these situations outside of the school environment.
And the Violence Free Zones have demonstrably improved
student outcomes. According to researchers at Baylor University, six high schools in Milwaukee that had implemented the Violence Free Zone program saw GPAs rise, suspensions decline and violent incidents diminish as a result. In Richmond, Virginia, there was a 60 percent reduction in car thefts near the schools that have incorporated Violence Free Zones.
Solutions to youth violence have stayed “drearily the same,” said Clarence Page, a Pulitzer-Prize winning columnist for the Chicago Tribune who moderated the summit. They’re akin to watching 5-year-olds play soccer. Everyone follows the ball. But unlike these programs, Woodson’s Center for Neighborhood Enterprise’s efforts have expanded to 39 states, with Violence Free Zones operating in major urban centers such as Baltimore, Atlanta, and Dallas.
While experts and authorities presented–including researchers Byron Johnson and William Wubbenhorst of Baylor University and Milwaukee Public Schools Superintendent William G. Andrekopoulos–the most compelling testimonials were provided by the students whose lives have been transformed by Woodson’s model. Students who had been to jail or prison on multiple occasions spoke about the transformative effect the VFZ had on their lives. The “transactional mentors”– former troubled youths themselves, are now passing on what changed them. And the centerpiece of that transaction is trust.
Ha, ha, ha! So what you are telling all of us is that the low life, gang-bangers will honor these VFZ's? Please — share what you are smoking with the rest of us!
You do not negotiate with criminals or terrorists. You obliterate them or they will take over. There is no DMZ or VFZ because these "terrorists" (gang-bangers) will do what they want, when they want and to whom they want. My God, when will Society realize this? The only way to make the streets safer is to eliminate the "problem".
I don’t know or endorse this group but the question is one of transformation. That is why mercy programs, including government programs do not work. The greatest recorded transformation was of Saul who became the apostle Paul on the road to Damascus. From “breathing out murderous threats” he was transformed to live and preach the message of love and salvation. Who are we to through stones at those striving to transform others through God’s grace and faith? Is not our time not better spent exposing the fraud being perpetrated one us by a secular government “exploiting and not enabling” these poor communities with our tax dollars. Here is one example from the group’s web site. "Victory Fellowship founder Freddie Garcia was a hard-core drug addict and criminal when he found redemption. Cured through faith of his addiction and filled with a desire to help other addicts, he and his wife returned to his hometown of San Antonio to open a ministry in a tiny house."
Are you suggesting that we eliminate the
professional educational establishment?.
ANY program that will help diminish youth crime is worthy of the attempt.
Meanwhile, do not take away our 2d Amendment Rights. There is never a policeman or first responder when you really need one.
I don't want anyone raped, maimed, terrorized, or killed while well-meaning former criminals are transforming troubled lives. Unfortunately, these barbarous acts will continue, which is the primary reason for suburban flight.
This is going to have a hard time working because no one can be expected to do this job full time for a lot of kids. The people doing this would have to make a commitment of at least 4 years to even have a chance at it.
Here is a suggestion lower everyone's taxes so that one parent can stay at home and raise there own children, there commitment is a life time one. Most people because of the cost of living have to have a two person income and most of the time that is not even enough. Then gov. run schools, and day care, and after school programs, and you name it raise the children not the way God intended it.
Gov. has already said they can do it better, no way. It ends up kids are raising kids and that doesn't even work in elephants. The kids become violent juvenile delinquents.
I agree, Darlene. It's right to hold parents accountable for the misbehavior of their youth. Meaning the parents should pay all expenses to any misbehavior their youth may cause, and then deal with their youth, as the upbringing expects. Once government takes over, nobody will be held accountable… but the taxpayers.
How do we know this isn't some type of indoctrination?
If civil law were enforced with severe penalty, this would deter crime and eliminate "babysitting by government," costs…
They had a guy, I think he was a "reformed" gang member who made a monopoly out of his supposed reform and was actually recruiting new members for his gang while being paid as acummunity organizer. I am not sure what organization he was affiliated with but I am concerned with the fact that is asks that these reformed reformers are to be taken on face value. Wouls we alllow a recovering addict to work as a pharmacist — simply because he had extensive exposure to drug use..? I have heard of mentors covering for kids and running interference within the criminal justice process by not reporting incidents in and out of schools… Not sold on it!
I am not that familiar with the VFZ program but as far as I've learned they have measurable results. I am a firm believer in each one reach one and many of the ones who need to be reach will only listen to those who relate. Alot of people who pass judgement on these sort of programs are far out of touch of inner city communities and the challenges that arise….I do believe programs like this can be and are sucessful with proper accountability and lng term planning. There are many people born and raised in these inner city environment's who hear a story to share about mistake, reformation, rehabilitation and more. JUST AS IT IS MANY IN SUBURBAN NEIGHBORHOODS with stories of reformation, rehabilitation, and more!