As an organization we value, diversity, community, safety and education

 

EDUCATION CLUB

PROBLEM:

Ongoing disasters & violence in our community have made it clear, that there is an increased need for everyone to learn how to take steps to be ready in the case of any emergency. Being prepared, allows one to respond with confidence and helps to reduce the fear, anxiety and losses that accompany many emergencies.

Street Wize Safety Club, is an injury and violence prevention program, designed to empower children, teens and young adults with life-saving skills, through safety, health and literacy education.


Objective(s)

The goals of the program are to:

  1. Train young people in high risk communities, how to respond to and avoid street violence, preventable injuries and deaths.
  2. Positively alter youths attitudes about their safety.
  3. To provide youths with skills that will direct them to making positive life choices.

In providing preparedness information to the community, much emphasis has been focused on educating the first responders and adults, with very little directed to our youth population in Boston. Well over 76,000+ young people between the ages of 5 to 18 years of age reside in city neighborhoods, and live in high risk areas. Unfortunately, less than 10% of them, have learned critical life saving skills that would allow them to avoid preventable accidents, or to respond with confidence, and serve as a resource during a major incident.


Methodology

To address this need, the Street Wize Safety Club was formed (coming summer 2010), and is being promoted through a partnership with a group of police officers; firefighters; youth mentors called the Street Wize Safety Squad; the dance troupe Seekers of Knowledge;  Tri-Ad Veterans League theatre program; that will help to provide lessons on a range of skills, health and safety topics. The concept of the club, is to provide training for youth groups and individuals, in-order to develop crucial skills that may one day help them to save a life, maybe even their own.

Youth will be able to join Street Wize as club members and participate to learn skills through workshops, community events, newsletter and other events scheduled throughout the community. As a member, youths will receive a membership card, monthly newsletter, and become eligible to enter club contests for free prizes such as games, bicycles, books, movie tickets and other prizes. To enter the contests, youths must participate in the programs, read books, visit the website, or community events, in order to answer questions to knowledge & skills test that they must send back, or fill out at an event to qualify. Drawing of names will take place for prizes.