By: Pete Hutchison, YES Program Manager and Flint resident Sitting in my office in Flint, Michigan reflecting on the tragedy that has taken place in Connecticut, I’m not sure what to make of it. After spending 39 years trying to prevent violence generally and youth violence specifically, it seems that there should be something profound to say. Yet as I …
The Power of After-School
By: Pete Hutchison, YES Program Director Today’s educators are being confronted with a rising amount of pressure to achieve, and this achievement is being measured through standardized testing. The admirable goal of this testing is to, in part, identify and develop interventions to address the large learning gaps that exist among today’s students. Unfortunately, as more and more schools find …
Lessons from a Sandlot
By: Pete Hutchison, YES Program Director As a kid we used to head to the vacant lot to play ball, rather than stay home to do chores or homework. It did not matter how many of us showed up to play, the game was always played because no one wanted to face the alternative awaiting us at home. As a …
YES is in the News
Word is getting out about Youth Empowerment Solutions. The press release and slideshow from the UM News Service has been picked up by numerous news outlets around the state and nationwide. Here are some of the headlines: Michigan Program Led to Lower Crime and Fewer Violent Incidents among Kids ASPH Friday Letter – Jan 26, 2012 Program led to lower …
Four Hugs and a Cupcake
By: Pete Hutchison, YES Program Director For 20 years I labored in the field of youth violence working, as a juvenile caseworker. The work was fulfilling and I believe we were having some positive effects on the youth, however it was clear that the young people we were involved with had developed their lifestyles to a point where it was …
Reducing Urban Blight as a Crime Prevention Strategy
Can programs like the Genesee County Land Bank’s Clean and Green Program prevent crime? Tom Reischl, PhD, Evaluation Director at MI-YVPC and the Prevention Research Center of Michigan, recently spoke to the Genesee County Board of Commissioners in support of funding for the Land Bank’s property maintenance programs. His remarks are posted below: Both violent crime and property crimes are …
Hands 4 Peace
By: Pete Hutchison, YES Program Director It seems as a culture we are incredibly adept at using our hands for destructive purposes. We often couch these activities in the cloak of competitiveness, the will to succeed, the survival of the fittest, pulling ourselves up by our boot straps and so on. Taken on face value these are all good things, …
From Broken Windows to Busy Streets
By: Marc Zimmerman, PhD, MI-YVPC Director Many urbanites follow the old adage of safety in numbers. They will choose to walk on streets with lots of activity because the presence of people acts as a deterrent to crime. This activity may occur because there are storefronts or simply people outside talking or playing together. Some neighborhoods, however, are unsettled with …
You must be logged in to post a comment.