Campus Violence Meeting – May 2009

The Lift Every Voice For Youth Oceanside Initiative was the natural result of outcries that something had to be done after hundreds of visits with families brought to light that many youth were under great stress and that parents and youth alike had a strong desire to come together for action. We launched this effort by holding a summer conference in 2008 to collectively listen to our young people — whose stories were candid tales of rampant bullying, fighting, and racial tension on school campuses, substance abuse/ addiction, self-inflicted mutilations, etc. It soon became deeply apparent that too many teens were/are suffering physically, mentally and emotionally! At this meeting, Oceanside principals from two high schools and four middle schools, the district associate superintendent, parents and students partnered with Faith Works’s members to seek more effective solutions to reduce recent episodes of violence and bullying on campuses. All committed to proposed plans to develop an anonymous reporting system that might better protect victims and to invest more time in building esteem through a comprehensive program. It was indeed a victory for all, but we still have a long way to go and will keep you posted!
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