Gang awareness and education for Newark youth

The Gang Resistance Education and Training (G.R.E.A.T.) program is a life-skills competency program designed to provide students with the skills they need to avoid gang pressure and youth violence. G.R.E.A.T.'s violence prevention curriculum helps students develop values and practice behaviors that will assist them to avoid destructive activities. The G.R.E.A.T. program coordinates with federal, regional, state and local agencies, as well as individuals from community and civic groups. The goal of the G.R.E.A.T. program is to train law enforcement officers in a school-based curriculum in which the officers provide instruction to school-aged children in life skill competencies, gang awareness, and anti-violence techniques. Training in the core G.R.E.A.T. program is provided to officers from any state or local law enforcement agency.

The City of Newark Police Department will use its grant award to collaborate with the Newark Unified School District and Saint Edward School to implement the G.R.E.A.T. program at the 3rd, 5th, and 7th grade levels. They will continue to focus on the entire population, keeping the high risk students in the mainstream.

CA/NCF