Attorney General Eric Holder and Education Secretary Arne Duncan Call for a National Conversation on Values and Student Violence

“Chicago will not be defined by this incident but rather by our response to it…” Secretary of Education Arne Duncan

From the United States Department of Justice (excerpts):

Attorney General Eric Holder and Education Secretary Arne Duncan joined with Chicago city officials to call for a national conversation on values to address youth violence in the wake of the fatal beating of a Chicago high school student. The announcement followed meetings with City officials, community leaders, students, and parents.

“Youth violence isn’t a Chicago problem, any more than it is a Black problem or a White problem. It’s something that affects communities big and small, and people of all races and colors. Today is the beginning of what will be a sustained, national effort on behalf of this entire administration to address youth violence and to make our streets safe for everyone,” Holder said.

* In August, the Attorney General joined mayors from across the nation at a White House Gang Violence Prevention and Crime Control Conference.

* The Recovery Act provided $4 billion for state and local law enforcement assistance, crime prevention, victims of crime, and funding to address violence against women. Through the Recovery Act, the City of Chicago received over $13 million in funding from the Office of Community Oriented Policing Services (COPS) to hire 50 officers to help combat crime and violence.

* The President’s budget includes a request of $298 million in additional funding for hiring additional police officers to help meet the Administration’s commitment to hire 50,000 officers nationwide.

* The Administration requested $114 million within the Department of Justice to fund programs designed to reduce criminal recidivism and help end the revolving door from corrections to reoffending, as well as $115 million in reentry-related programs funded within the Department of Labor.

* The President’s budget requested $25 million to support successful community-based partnerships designed to end violent youth crime – partnerships like the successful model implemented by Operation Ceasefire in Chicago.

The Department of Justice released a study on children’s exposure to violence. Among other findings, the study shows that more than 60 percent of the children surveyed were exposed to violence in the past year, either directly or indirectly. Nearly half of children and adolescents were assaulted at least once, and more than one in 10 were injured as a result. Nearly one-quarter were the victims of robbery, vandalism or theft, and one in 16 were victimized sexually. (The study can be found at www.ojjdp.ncjrs.gov.)

Duncan announced that the Department of Education is working with Chicago Public Schools (CPS) to award a $500,000 grant to help Fenger High School and the elementary and middle schools that feed into Fenger HS, restoring learning environments following the death of 16-year-old Derrion Albert. Funds for this grant are coming from a grant program entitled Project SERV – School Emergency Response to Violence. This program is designed to help restore the learning environment in school districts that have been impacted by a significant traumatic event. SERV grants also were provided to school districts in New Jersey, Massachusetts, and New York in 2009.

Duncan emphasized, however, “This is not about the money. Money alone will never solve this problem. It’s about our values. It’s about who we are as a society. And it’s about taking responsibility for our young people to teach them what they need to know to live side-by-side and deal with their differences without anger or violence.”

###

Following the Holder and Duncan’s visit, Mayor Daley held another press conference in Bronzeville at Little Black Pearl where he outlined new initiatives to fight violence with after school programs, Saturday programs, more police, and better intelligence gathering as the main points. He also asked every Chicagoan to accept their responsibility to protect the city’s children.

Mayor Daley and CPS CEO Ron Huberman both pointed out that no child had been murdered inside a Chicago Public School. The deaths occurred outside of school and most between the hours of 2pm and 6pm which makes after school programs vital. In the meantime, Chicago Police will be more strategically deployed to troubled schools at dismissal times.

“This brutal violence is unacceptable…when a parent loses a child, you lose part of your soul, part of your life. Children are a gift from God…look at society and see what’s happening to all of us. We must stand up to gangs and dope dealers or they take over the street, the block, the neighborhood. Gangs are bigger than anyone wants to believe and their structure is sophisticated.” Mayor Richard Daley

Daley also said, “Understand what parenting is all about; love and discipline.” What about troubled parents? “If the adult has an issue with drugs or alcohol, we should be able to deal with the issue and still save that child.”

As far as sweeping changes, “One plan is not going to be good for all. You have to go community by community…even if Federal money comes in, the answer is not more money thrown at the problem.”

In Bronzeville, 3rd Ward Alderman Pat Dowell had already begun taking steps. Dowell has talked to the police about potential violent outbreaks outside some of the area’s schools and potential hot-spots such as the 35th Street Green Line El stop which serves as a transfer point for hundreds of students. She also spoke to the CTA about timing their buses according to the various dismissal times of the 3rd Ward’s high schools. Dowell said, “The Mayor’s initiatives will enhance what we are already doing.”

Alderman Dowell said she would like to see area business owners and residents mentoring, talking to the schools about volunteering their time, furnishing needed supplies, and hiring the youth for part-time and odd jobs, even if it were just a few hours a week.

Senator Mattie Hunter said, “There are too many gaps and I would like to see a comprehensive family-concept approach. All of us are in this and everyone has a role to play.”

Alderman Willie Cochran of the 20th Ward said that since he has been involved with the Safety Initiative in Englewood, he has seen a significant decline in crime in the targeted area. The Safety Initiative meets once a month and works with the State’s Attorney, Department of Human Services, boys clubs, faith-based groups and various others. Cochran said he would like to see collaboration and communication with all groups including the Nation of Islam, the Black Star Project, and the Baptist Institute. “Let’s setup a board, develop guidelines, procedures, and triggers. Coordination between us will be much more effective than us working independently and it empowers us as a group.” Metropolis

Click Here to Add Your Comment