The National Campaign to Stop Violence will recognize 120, Palm BeachCounty 6th, 7th and 8th grade students, who participated in the Do the Write Thing Challenge program at a luncheon banquet at the RaymondJ.KravisCenter for the Arts in West Palm Beach. At the May 5th presentation, six finalists - three, young men and three, young women will be awarded for their writings regarding stopping youth violence. The top girl and boy will have an opportunity to travel to Washington, DC to be honored in a national ceremony.

Thomas Baker, a student at Watson B. Duncan Middle School, is the second place finalist in the young men's category.

"This is the first year we are having a banquet to honor these students who are making a difference in our community," said Bill Bone, Esq., the Palm Beach Chairman of the Do the Write Thing Challenge. "The program has grown dramatically in the last year as schools see the value that it brings to their students."

The Do the Write Thing Challenge is a program that gives middle school students an opportunity to examine the impact of violence on their lives and communicate that impact in writing. The program involves a classroom discussion and a written "Challenge" to answer three questions through an essay, poem or song: How has youth violence affected my life? What are the causes of youth violence? What can I do to reduce youth violence?

Over 7,000 entries were received in Palm BeachCounty. Many more participated in classroom discussions. Nineteen schools participated and twelve schools were eligible, by having 1/3 of their students participating. These 12 schools selected their "Top Ten" best writings that were then judged against competing schools.

All of the entries were read by multiple panels of volunteer judges representing a cross section of Palm BeachCounty educators, parents, law enforcement and judicial leaders. Submissions were not edited for grammar, spelling and structure; they were judged on the content of the work. Lourdes Fanjul chaired the young women's committee. Circuit Court Judge, Ronald Alvarez, chaired the young men's committee.

The goal of the program is to reduce violence in homes, schools and neighborhoods by encouraging students to make a personal commitment to do something about this problem. Those students who submitted writings were not necessarily at risk, had experience with violence in their lives or have a propensity to get involved with gangs...some were more vulnerable.

"When I first saw the program, I loved it," said Sandra Jinks, principal of PalmSpringsMiddleSchool, an early supporter of the program. "It allows students to express themselves and their experiences with violence. It's an important issue and adults need to listen to what they have to say. They have good ideas."

Many young teens have witnessed violence in their home, neighborhood or school. They may have been bullied or stigmatized by the way they look or talk. TV, videos and music often compound the problem, glamorizing violence as a way of life.

Corporal Rafael Duran in the Juvenile Arrest and Monitoring Unit at the Palm Beach County Sheriff's Office sees the effect of bullying and teen violence every day. "This program gives us insight into what kids are thinking, by writing and talking about it. There can be a shift in their thinking, and for many, they realize they are not alone in their fears and struggles."

At the Kravis event, the six finalists, and others selected, will read brief quotes from their writings. Pepe Fanjul, Jr. from Florida Crystals will introduce the program and a book, containing all 120 entries, will be given to each guest. The steering committee, including judges, congressmen, county and city officials and business leaders, will be attending the event.

Florida Crystals underwrote the cost of the Kravis luncheon and will sponsor the costs for the two winners to attend the national ceremony in WashingtonDC. Palm Beach Newspapers, Inc. underwrote the cost of publishing the writings of the 120 Do the Write Thing Challenge finalists. William H. Pitt Foundation provided $500 grants to each school principal who committed their school to full participation in the program. Larmoyeux & Bone provided administrative support for organizing and directing the efforts of the Steering Committee.

For more information about the Do the Write Thing Challenge or the Kravis event, call Molly McCormick at (561) 832-9434.

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