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| Richmond Violence-Free ZoneIn just one year at George Wythe high school in Richmond, VA, the Violence-Free Zone program implemented by the Richmond Outreach Center (The ROC) produced significant impacts (see Results—Richmond VFZ). The school reports that incidents, which include all categories from disruptions to violent incidents, were down 16% for the year from the previous year. Major reductions were also logged in unexcused absences and truancies. Individual students enrolled in the VFZ mentoring program also showed major improvements in behavior and academic progress. The 84 students who were in the VFZ program for at least one school marking period (nine weeks), reduced the number of negative incidents in which they were involved by an impressive 45%. They also decreased the number of their suspensions by 55% and cut in half the number of days they were suspended. They reduced absences by 20%. The Richmond VFZ participants increased their grade point averages (GPAs) by 8%. Although the Violence-Free Zone is not an academic program, its goal is to motivate students to learning, and tutoring is provided wherever possible. The Richmond Outreach Center (The ROC) was founded in 2001, and has more than 100 ministries providing a variety of services to low-income, at-risk youth and families. More than 1,000 children are transported by bus to The ROC every Saturday to participate in positive activities. For the 2009/2010 school year, The ROC has eight Youth Advisors working in George Wythe High School serving as hall monitors, mediators, and role models, and acting as character coaches. They also mentor 189 students enrolled in the VFZ mentoring program. CONTACT INFORMATION Geronimo Aguilar Mailing Address: |
