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Summer Academy 2010
"GMF Star Power"
Dates TBA
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{History} {Mission & Vision} {Executive Summary}
{Founder} {SOE New York}

EXECUTIVE SUMMARY

PROBLEM STATEMENT

• Everyday in America, 16 children are killed by firearms. That is one every 2 hours or less. More U.S. teenagers die from gunshot wounds than from all natural causes combined. Gunshot wounds to children ages 16 and under have increased 300 percent in major urban areas since 1986. Between 1980 and 1995, the suicide rate for 10-19 year old African Americans rose 114% and 96% of that increase was due to firearms.
  (http://www.aacap.org/web/aacap/info_families/NationalFacts/
  99ViolFctSh.htm)
• A report from the American Academy of Child & Adolescent Psychiatry states: “Because clinical interventions for violent conduct disorders do not work, the child and adolescent psychiatrist must seek opportunities to be a leader or team member in well-organized and well-funded community prevention efforts.” (http://www.aacap.org/web/aacap/infofamilies/
  NationalFacts/ coGunViol.htm)
• A recent report entitled “America’s Children 2000” states that youth ages 12-17 are nearly three times more likely than adults to be victims of serious violent crimes, i.e. aggravated assault, rape, robbery and homicide.” Studies show that innocent victims often become offenders and the vicious cycle is repeated. (http://childstats.gov/ac2000/hehtxt.asp)

PURPOSE

To train middle school students to be polite, considerate, respectful, self-disciplined and socially aware. Because the need to belong and how to belong are at the core of healthy adolescent development, young people need clear-cut guidelines and codes of acceptable behavior that will allow them to successfully maneuver through life. Learning skills of decorum and appropriate behavior will build confidence and will ultimately present the key to open countless doors of opportunity to success.


NEEDS ASSESSMENT FOR SOCIAL AND CULTURAL ENRICHMENT

A recent report from of The Ohio Children’s Defense Fund stated that the participation of youth in positive activities at school and in the community have been linked to positive outcomes (for at-risk teens)… Examples cited of positive activities might include participation in extracurricular activities such as school clubs and team sports, scouting, or involvement with religious organizations. Wherever and whenever teens are given the opportunity to learn to socialize appropriately, positive outcomes can be expected.


A COMPREHENSIVE EDUCATIONAL PORTFOLIO

The purpose and need for an after school social skills development training program:

• to equip and prepare young people with skills of decorum and cultural awareness in academic, social and business settings
• to stress the importance of first impressions; job readiness and to provide guidelines for appropriate appearance, dress and behavior
• to enhance non-verbal, verbal and written communication skills necessary to gain social advantage through public speaking and the writing of personal correspondence
• to expose young people to teachers and mentors who model what they teach—who are able to equip teens with behavioral tools for coping with conflict and other challenging relational issues that emerge each day, especially in regards to male/female relationships
• to allow young scholars to handle with ease proper table manners and social etiquette at home, in public places and at special events
• to provide access to the refining touch necessary to bring full closure to the already comprehensive core curriculum of the academic process