NEW
BRUNSWICK – New Jersey Attorney
General Peter C. Harvey and Middlesex
County Prosecutor Bruce Kaplan today launched
PROJECT VISION New Jersey at the Lincoln
Avenue School Annex on Somerset Street
in New Brunswick. PROJECT VISION is an
after-school program created by the Attorney
General as a partnership with county prosecutors
and community based organizations to support
and establish after school programs throughout
New Jersey that will provide safe havens
for children and teens. The theme for
PROJECT VISION is “Protecting our
Future, Preparing our Children.”
Attorney
General Harvey and Prosecutor Kaplan were
joined by parents, teachers, members of
community groups, law enforcement personnel
and nearly 90 children who have enrolled
in the after school program at the Lincoln
School Annex.
The
essential mission of PROJECT VISION, which
the Attorney General established through
the Division of Criminal Justice, is to
surround children with caring adults and
teach them lessons and skills that will
turn them away from gangs. The eight core
elements of PROJECT VISION are personal
responsibility, caring adults, safe havens,
personal safety, academic development,
life skills, career awareness and community
service.
"PROJECT VISION gives children a
vision of themselves for tomorrow. Youth
violence related to gang activity is growing.
It is robbing young people of their futures
and turning our communities into firing
ranges," said Attorney General Harvey.
"We are punishing those who commit
gang related crimes, but we also must
turn youths away from the false glamour
of gang life through educational outreach.
The core mission of PROJECT VISION is
to provide that outreach and help us win
the battle for our children."
A
$50,000 grant was awarded to the Middlesex
County Prosecutor’s office for PROJECT
VISION from the Division of Criminal Justice.
PROJECT VISION programs also are being
developed in Bridgeton in Cumberland County;
Glassboro in Gloucester County, Asbury
Park in Monmouth County and Irvington
in Essex County. All PROJECT VISION initiatives
are developed through the county prosecutor's
offices and community based organizations.
Prosecutor
Kaplan said, “This program will
greatly benefit the children of New Brunswick
by providing them with a nurturing environment
during after-school hours, surrounded
by caring adults.
They will also have the opportunity to
develop a sense of personal responsibility,
good study habits, and useful skills to
further their awareness of possible career
choices. This is a win-win situation for
all parties involved – the children,
the parents and the community as a whole
and I applaud the efforts of Attorney
General Harvey.”
“The
commencement of Project Vision at Lincoln
School is the latest step in our ongoing
effort to bring educational and meaningful
after school activities into the lives
of our City’s young people. Through
a combination of experiences, students
will have an opportunity to enhance their
academic prowess, attain useful skills,
and further develop key aspects of personal
responsibility, which they will utilize
throughout their years in the New Brunswick
school system and beyond. Our sincere
appreciation goes out to all of those
who have helped to make Project Vision
become a reality for the students at Lincoln
School,” said New Brunswick Mayor
Jim Cahill.
During
today's program in the cafeteria of the
Lincoln School Annex, nearly 90 first
through fourth students participated in
programs at four stations, including educational
videos; storytelling; homework assistance/computer
training; and arts and crafts.
Students
enrolled in the program at Lincoln School
Annex will receive personal responsibility
lessons that will emphasize decision making
skills, fair play and respect for others
and self. Lessons in personal safety will
include instruction about the dangers
of gangs. Community service lessons will
focus on community pride and the spirit
of volunteerism. All of the programs are
provided in a safe atmosphere with the
help of caring adults, including mentors
from Rutgers University, local law enforcement
and community organizations.
The
Lincoln School Annex program will assist
children in academic development through
daily homework assistance, a reading support
program, preparation for standardized
tests, and access to computer facilities
at the school. Career awareness will be
promoted through a Career Day and visits
to Rutgers University and Robert Wood
Johnson University Hospital.
Children
in the program will participate in community
service through the New Jersey Waterwatch
environmental program, the Community Outreach
Program of the Robert Wood Johnson University
Hospital, community service activities
organized by Rutgers student groups, and
language assistance programs for parents
and children for whom English is a second
language.
"These
eight core elements provide the foundation
for children and teens to develop into
positive adults and to understand and
participate in positive programs that
are alternatives to the violence of the
streets," said Attorney General Harvey.
The
PROJECT VISION initiative in New Brunswick
is being provided by the New Brunswick
Youth Services System in conjunction with
the Board of Education and the Lincoln
School Annex. PROJECT VISION is the first
in a two part initiative to serve school
children in the city. The second component
of the program will serve older children.
Also participating in today’s kickoff
were James Cook, Council President, City
of New Brunswick; Joseph Catanese, New
Brunswick Police Director; Patrick Pegari,
Ph.D., Middlesex County Superintendent
of Schools; Richard Kaplan, New Brunswick
Superintendent of Schools; Mary Jane McDonald,
Principal, Lincoln Annex School; and David
Blevins, Director, New Brunswick Youth
Services System.
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