Antelope Valley Human Relations Commission

‘Violence-Free Zone’ initiative begins at schools

This story appeared in the Antelope Valley Press
Wednesday, January 16, 2008.

By TITUS GEE
Valley Press Staff Writer

PALMDALE – Antelope Valley Union High School District kicked off a new anti-violence program Tuesday with assemblies introducing the Violence-Free Zone initiative to students and the public.

The initiative, an offshoot of the Washington based Center for Neighborhood Enterprise, enlists community members to walk school hallways as “student advisers” who build relationships with students and help to defuse tension between teens. At the same time, district officials announced “30 Days of Peace,” a campaign asking students to promote nonviolence and good behavior for the next four weeks.

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Tags: Community, Education, Violence by admin
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Attention all members.  We will hold our annual officer elections at our January meeting.

Thanks,
Darren

Tags: Election, Meeting, Task Force by Darren Parker
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This story appeared in the Antelope Valley Press
Saturday, January 12, 2008.

By VERONICA ROCHA
Valley Press Staff Writer

LANCASTER – A 15-year-old former Knight High School student was sentenced to three years’ probation Friday as part of an offer he accepted in connection with a September 2006 attack by a group of black youths on two Latino teenagers walking home from the school.

In an Antelope Valley Superior Courtroom, Judge Lisa Chung sentenced Mark Broussard III, who was charged as an adult on hate crime allegations and felony assault charges, to felony probation Friday.

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Tags: Hearings/Trials/Justice, Violence by admin
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PALMDALE – The City of Palmdale will host a special panel discussion
event entitled “One Voice: Succeeding and Overcoming Obstacles in the
Face of Stereotyping and Discrimination” on Saturday, Jan. 19 from 1 to
2:30 pm at the Palmdale Playhouse, 38334 10th St. E. in Palmdale.

The event is free and is designed especially for teens and their parents.
Dr. Barbara Young, CEO of Young Enterprises, will serve as the
moderator for the panel discussion. The four panelists will include
businesswoman Helen Acosta, attorney Virgil Roberts, retired aerospace
worker and war veteran Lawrence Duplechan and school board member Ira
Simonds.

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Tags: Attitudes, Community, Discrimination, Education, Stereotypes by Darren Parker
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Ready to step down after 18 years with city

This story appeared in the Antelope Valley Press
Wednesday, January 9, 2008.

By BOB WILSON
Valley Press Staff Writer

LANCASTER – Eighteen years of public service are enough, minister and Mayor Henry Hearns said Tuesday.

Standing amid a throng of family members, friends and supporters at City Hall, Hearns, 74, said he would not seek re-election to the City Council.

“It’s not because of being afraid of not being elected again. That has nothing to do with it,” Hearns said. “But it’s because of these people who are standing with me.”

It was a throng of friends, family and supporters who persuaded him he had contributed enough time to elected office, he said.

“I have finished my course as far as the political scene is concerned,” Hearns said.

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Tags: Darren Parker by admin
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Violence-Free Zone kicks off at Knight and Eastside High

This story appeared in the Antelope Valley Press
Saturday, January 5, 2008.

By TITUS GEE
Valley Press Staff Writer

Organizers of an initiative aimed at reducing youth crime and violence on area high school campuses this week began final preparations for a January launch.

Officials from the Antelope Valley Union High School District and the cities of Palmdale and Lancaster met Thursday with representatives for the Violence-Free Zone initiative. The group laid plans to kick off the new program January 17 at Knight High and Eastside High, officials said.

The Violence-Free Zone Initiative, an offshoot of the Washington -based Center for Neighborhood Enterprise, enlists community members to walk school hallways as “student advisers” who build relationships with students and help to defuse tension between teens.

Program leaders look for parents raising successful kids in tough environments and those who made mistakes early in life, then got their acts together. Such people already have the skill set to help students cope, said Robert Woodson, founder of the Center for Neighborhood Enterprise, which runs similar programs at 25 high schools in six cities across the nation.

Under the plan, the Antelope Valley residents will walk school yards and halls as an adult resource for students and teachers. They will run tardy rooms, detention classes and in-school suspension programs, organizers said.

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Tags: Attitudes, Education, Task Force, Violence by admin
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