Cass Lake - Bena Middle School G.R.E.A.T. Project

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.

Cass Lake - Bena Public Schools will use this grant to support its 6th grade G.R.E.A.T. program and to add the Elementary Component of G.R.E.A.T. in grade 5. It anticipates teaching the G.R.E.A.T. program to 78 fifth graders and 69 sixth graders during the grant period. The Cass Lake area has had significant issues with gangs and gang violence. The Minneapolis Star Tribune ran a series of articles reporting on the 'The Lost Youth of Cass Lake.' The grantee's G.R.E.A.T. program will benefit from the school district's collaboration with the Greater Cass Lake Area Weed and Seed Initiative. Additionally, the grantee is a collaborative gang prevention/resistance education partner with the Leech Lake/Cass Lake Area Boys and Girls Club.

CA/NCF