The training conference kicks off the third year of the establishment of the Third Eye Project in Rhode Island. An initiative of Youth Crime Watch of America (YCWA) funded by the US Department of Justice, Third Eye is devised to equip students and teachers with the knowledge and skills necessary to promote a safe, secure, and drug-free school environment and to reduce the incidence of bullying, harassment, truancy, vandalism, and other crimes and violent behaviors. Lynch’s office partnered with YCWA to introduce the Third Eye Project to Rhode Island schools in October 2006.
Individual Rhode Island schools, students, and the Attorney General’s Office have received national recognition for the quality of the work and efforts involved in empowering students through the Third Eye Project.
The initiative adopts an evidence-based youth crime-prevention model and brings young people of various backgrounds together to work with educators, law enforcement, counselors, and concerned parents to address issues related to school-based crime and violence. To date, more than 20 Rhode Island middle and high schools are participating.
The 2008 Third Eye Training Conference runs from 8 AM to 1:30 PM both tomorrow and Friday, Oct. 31. Other presenters include former Third Eye student participants Nicky Hall, a Pilgrim High School graduate, and Esaie Touze, a graduate of Mt. Pleasant High School; John Mattson, regional representative for YCWA in Rhode Island; Moses Saygbe, Crime Prevention Specialist for the Attorney General’s Office; Charles Blanchette, a member of the faculty of the Feinstein Middle School in Coventry, and Feinstein students Taylor Therrien and Nick Paiva.
Lunches are being provided free of charge to the participants by Sodexo.
Lynch also will deliver closing remarks and issue school participation certificates at 12:30 PM on Friday, Oct. 31.
The media is invited to provide coverage.