MYCP - Monroe Youth Challenge Program

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Holocaust Teachings Prepare Students for Youth Violence Prevention Week March 19-23

TAVERNIER, Fla. (544 words) – Terrors from the Holocaust have taught the world many lessons. This week, it’s what pulls Monroe County Youth together to study and discuss how to prevent violence on global, national, and local levels. With live drama, photographs, cultural music, Holocaust memoir reading assignments and one-on-one meetings with Holocaust survivors, Coral Shores High School students are set to experience National Youth Violence Prevention Week like never before. Set for March 26 – 30th nationwide, Monroe County Schools plan to participate in the campaign the week prior March 19 – 23 because they will be out of school for Spring break during the national dates. The National Youth Violence Prevention campaign goal is to raise awareness and to educate students, school staff, parents, and the public on effective ways to prevent or reduce youth violence.

Photo Credit: MYCP
As part of the "Can You Hear Them Crying?" production, accomplished musician Dave Feder (in the foreground) voluntarily teaches two Coral Shores High School students Freshman Javi Soltero and Junior Jordan Hopp a new piece of music entitled “Boker Tov.” The two guitarists along with singer Cynthia Sabin (also a freshman) are set to perform the song in Hebrew which means good morning. It is about greeting the day and being grateful for life. Photo taken by Claudia Halligen, a creative photography student at Coral Shores.

With the support of Monroe Youth Challenge Program (MYCP), each day of the week focuses on a specific violence prevention strategy: Promote Respect & Tolerance; Manage Your Anger; Resolve Conflicts Peacefully; Support Safety; and Unite in Action. “During our week-long education initiative, activities demonstrate the positive role young people can have in making their schools and communities safer,” said MYCP Director and Safe School Coordinator Sunny Booker.

Before the week even begins, Tracy Dobson’s drama class is rehearsing for “Can You Hear them Crying” an original Holocaust Memorial production written and performed by the students at Coral Shores. This production was made possible by the partnership of MYCP and a Florida Learn and Serve grant. “The students have taken two scripts and combined them with music, poetry, and a slide show we hope to perform at both middle schools in the Upper Keys as well as all three county public high schools,” said MYCP Prevention Coordinator Michele Sutter. A public viewing may be made possible in April.

Booker said, “Usually for National Youth Violence Prevention week we would bring in a big ‘splashy’ program but we feel these teens can do a better job than anyone of speaking to their peers. The talent of these youth can be the change in Monroe County.”

“Can You Hear them Crying” is a production from the nature of the students according to Dobson. She says, “Their mission is to educate, remind and empower our youth on the dangers of violence and the impact of viewing others through a hierarchy of separation determined by the mind and not the heart.”

In an effort to further touch the students’ hearts, part of their training in the drama class is to attend the upcoming Student Awareness Day, a Holocaust symposium in Miami set for March 21. Students from all three county high schools are slated to attend as well. At the symposium, students sit in groups no larger than 10 for round-table discussions with trained facilitators and survivors of the Holocaust. This follows another field trip to the Miami Beach Holocaust Memorial planned March 12 for the drama class.

In preparation for the drama, Speaker Yardena Kameli, who was trained by Yad Vashem in Jerusalem to teach Holocaust studies, has visited with the class to share about the impact the Holocaust had upon children. Yad Vashem is the leading institution in the world focused on Holocaust documentation and education. Kameli, a psychologist and educator originally from Israel, is a member of the Keys Jewish Community Center (KJCC) in Tavernier and teaches Hebrew classes there each week. The KJCC supports the youth violence prevention efforts of MYCP. They provide matching funds to pay for transportation to Student Awareness Day.

To incorporate multiple education methods for awareness, the drama class was also assigned to read, “Night” by Ellie Weisel and view the film, “The Pianist.”

Monroe Youth Challenge Program is a project of the Monroe County Education Foundation to foster acceptance, respect, and success in the youth of Monroe County. For more information contact Michele Sutter at (305) 852-1664 or visit www.monroe.k12.fl.us/mycp. For information on Youth Violence Prevention Week visit http://www.violencepreventionweek.org. And for information on Yad Vashem or the Holocaust, visit http://www1.yadvashem.org