New
Jersey Attorney General Peter C. Harvey
was joined by Essex County and Irvington
law enforcement and nearly 40 students
from the Grove Street School in Irvington
to launch New Jersey’s PROJECT VISION-IRVINGTON,
the after-school gang prevention initiative
of the Office of the Attorney General.
PROJECT VISION-PLAINFIELD joins other
PROJECT VISION Programs in New Jersey.
The PROJECT VISION initiative is an outgrowth
of the Attorney General’s Gangs,
Guns, and Drugs initiative. PROJECT VISION
is a partnership with county prosecutors
and community based organizations to support
and establish after school programs throughout
New Jersey that provide safe havens for
children and teens. The theme for PROJECT
VISION is “Protecting Out Future,
Preparing Our Children.” The mission
of PROJECT VISION is to surround children
with caring adults and teach lessons and
skills that will turn youth 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 and robbing young
people of their future 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 youth 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.
Students
enrolled in PROJECT VISION - IRVINGTON
receive personal responsibility lessons
that emphasize decision-making skills,
fair play and respect for others and self.
Lessons in personal safety include instruction
about the dangers of gangs. A $50,000
grant was awarded to the Essex County
Prosecutor’s Office for PROJECT
VISION from the Division of Criminal Justice.
Two major components of the Irvington
Program include Academic Prep which emphasizes
reading and writing and Social Skills
Development which emphasizes self-esteem.
PROJECT VISION-IRVINGTON is unique from
other PROJECT VISION programs in that
the curriculum is incorporated into the
last class period of the day. The program,
which began in November, currently includes
40 students.
“We
are happy to announce the implementation
of PROJECT VISION at the Grove Street
School in Irvington. PROJECT VISION is
an anti-violence initiative designed to
discourage young people from getting involved
in gangs, guns and drugs,” said
Essex County Prosecutor Paula T. Dow.
“My office, with assistance from
The Bridge, Inc, provide academic and
social assistance to 5th grade classes
three days a week at The Grove Street
School, centering on mentorship, career
awareness, physical exercise, etiquette
and public speaking. This cooperative
effort, between the Attorney General Peter
C. Harvey, my office, Mayor Smith, Stanford
Brown, Executive Director of The Bridge,
the Police Department, the Board of Education
and the PTA at the Grove Street School
can affect a positive difference in this
community.”
"In
the same manner that we are revitalizing
the appearance of the Grove Street area,
we have to change the negative, but powerful
influences being inflicted upon our children
in today's popular culture," Mayor
Wayne Smith said. "What makes you
cool is not your associations--if they
are with the wrong people--but making
positive choices and maturing as a productive
and caring member of society. Through
the Irvington Police Department, our network
of social service providers, members of
the clergy and other concerned citizens,
we will work diligently to make Project
Vision a success in our community,"
he added.
Also
participating in the program were Superintendent
of Irvington Schools Ethel W. Davion,
Executive Director of The Bridge, Stanford
Brown and the Irvington Police Department.
PROJECT
VISION programs are also being implemented
in Asbury Park in Monmouth County. Project
Vision is a statewide initiative that
is being funded by the Office of the Attorney
General to 21 county prosecutors for a
Project Vision Program in their respective
county. Programs currently exist in Plainfield
in Union County, New Brunswick in Middlesex
County, Glassboro in Gloucester County,
and Bridgeton in Cumberland County.
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