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GANG
AWARENESS
"All gang problems
are local in nature.
Local problems require local solutions" --
In 1998 the Suffolk County Executive formed a commission to
study the spread of gangs in Suffolk County and to “prevent
this ‘emerging’ problem from gaining a foothold
in Suffolk County.”
WHY DO KIDS JOIN GANGS?
According to this study, some of the reasons include: to experience
a sense of family, belonging, or fellowship; to gain respect,
a positive self-image, status; to realize financial gain;
for excitement and fun and other social gains; for protection
from neighborhood or rival gang violence; because of recruitment
intimidation; due to peer pressure; and because the dangers
of gang involvement are not understood. |
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One
of the Character Education Traits is TOLERANCE.
Council
for Unity working proactively against gangs
Members
of the Council for Unity at RHS work together to keep RHS
a peaceful learning environment for all of the school’s
students, to erase lines of division among its student body,
to promote tolerance and to strive for unity. This year,
in addition to the Council for Unity Club, which meets as
an after school club, RHS also offers a History/English
elective, which follows the national curriculum written
for the Counci.
Council
for Unity is an anti-gang, violence-prevention program.
Riverhead High School is trying to create a “positive
gang” among students that is family-oriented. The
pillars of Council for  Unity
are best described by the acronym F.U.S.E., which stands
for Family, Unity, Self-Esteem, and Empowerment. Council
classes study lessons from history: confronting racism,
bigotry, and violence.
New members in the Council for Unity Club are inducted in
June, after completing the curriculum. They are working
together to keep our schools safe from gangs.
RHS principal Jim McCaffrey sees safety as a number one
concern. One way of achieving that goal is through the Council
for Unity, which strives to keep the high school a safe
haven.
The Council also has instituted a Council Mentors program.
Council members are partnered with students, who may be
having some difficulties academically, socially or emotionally.
The mentors provide friendship and advice, and make recommendations
if faculty intervention is needed.
“I like Council because it brings all the students
together without looking at only our ethnic backgrounds,”
shares Quadre, the Council President.
Also
see: Council for Unity Expands to the
Jail, Quadre
Mims wins 2006 Suffolk County Anti-Bias Award/ Council
for Unity 2003-04, National
Council For Unity
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