|
|
 |
| |
Three
students
from St.
Mary's
Academy
have
joined
an elite
force of
teenagers
who are
helping
deter
criminal
activity
in the
city of
New
Orleans.
Jernay
Barnes,
Brooke
Sylvester
and
Kerstin
Augillard
are
participants
in the
Crimestoppers
Teen
Ambassadors
Against
Crime (TAAC)
Leadership
Program
which
endeavors
to help
students
gain a
better
understanding
of the
criminal
justice
arena,
including
the role
that
students
can and
do play
in
community
safety.
Sophomores
and
juniors
were
selected
from 22
public,
private
and
parochial
schools
from
Jefferson,
Orleans
and St.
Tammany
parishes.
One or
two
students
were
selected
from
each
school
on the
basis of
interest
in
criminal
justice
and
leadership
abilities,
said
Darlene
Cusanza,
president
and
chief
executive
officer
of
Crimestoppers.
The
program
educates
teenagers
about
the
costs
and
consequences
of
crime,
their
responsibilities
as
citizens,
and
their
role as
mentors
to their
peers.
Additionally,
TAAC
increases
social
responsibility
in
teens,
educates
them
about
the law,
reduces
their
potential
for
victimization,
and
engages
them in
making
their
homes,
schools,
and
communities
safer.
"The
message,
about
not to
get
involved
in
crimes
and
drugs,
gets
across
better
when you
hear it
from
your
peers,"
Cusanza
said.
Recently,
all of
the
ambassadors
were
featured
at the
27th
Annual
Crimestoppers
Annual
Awards
Luncheon
held at
the
Hilton
Riverside
New
Orleans.
The
luncheon
honors
individuals
who have
helped
both
Crimestoppers
and the
New
Orleans
community
in the
mission
of
taking
criminals
off our
streets.
It also
serves
as a
networking
opportunity
for
citizens
who are
interested
in
preserving
community
safety.
Accompanying
the
Ambassadors
from SMA
were
Cheryl
Ross
Brown,
assistant
principal
of St.
Mary's
Academy
and
Shira
Hussain,
Academic
Counselor.
|
|
| |
|
|
|
