By Hamilton Sneed, National Youth Chair, National Youth Summit on Preventing Violence
The 2002 National Youth Summit on Preventing Violence was held at the Crystal Gateway Marriott from February 16 – 19, 2002 in Washington, DC. Hosted by the National Crime Prevention Council, youth and adults from 43 states and 5 countries attended to gain knowledge on various issues affecting youth crime today. The Summit’s main goal was to change the perceptions of adults who believe that most young people are perpetrators of crime and this was accomplished in numerous ways throughout the Summit.
Thirty-four youth, ages 11-21, from 12 states were
selected to be McGruff Ambassadors to help develop policy recommendations in
nine crucial areas of concern.
Teen Think
Tanks of America, Inc. provided a process of facilitated electronic
brainstorming, a consensus model and
collaborative group-decision technology for the 34
Ambassadors were able to capture their thoughts and ideas quickly into an
electronic database. Using this TTT approach for one hour each day during the
four-day summit, the ambassadors developed policy recommendations addressing
issues concerning terrorism, crime
prevention basics, school safety, substance abuse, entertainment and
prevention, community activism, media, technology crime, and policy as they relate to violence among
youth in America.
The report of policy
recommendations was presented to a top official of the Homeland Security Office
of the White House; and copies were delivered to the President, Vice President,
Attorney General, both houses of Congress, and to the Governor of each state.
The Summit brought us together; the march
gave us a stand; the rally gave us a voice; we are the most valuable untapped resource in America. Now, it is our challenge to our elected
officials to lead by example and act upon our recommendations.
Hamilton
Sneed
2002
Summit Youth Chair
National Youth Summit on Preventing Violence