OT NEWS photo Terry Peters CARSON Graham Peace Corps members Alana Blackadar (left to right), Albert Vianday, Analise Saely, Andrea Nacey and Elfred Matining perform a scene from one of their anti-violence skits. Students become part Mf anti-violence solutt Deana Lancaster News Reporter deana@nsnews.com CARSON Graham principal Larry Brown asked his students to be part of the solu- tion after a brawl broke out at the school last September. They didn’r let him down. “Out of something bad, something good happens. said Brown, reflecting on the way loped during the last seven morths. It was the fast week of September when a ri that had simmered through the summer erupted into a fight between six male Grade 2] students, No one was hurt, but the brother of one student brandished 4 steering wheel locking club, and a staff member hit by an apple while trying to break up the fight. Brown, not one month into his role as principal of the school, called an assembly that day shave a right to be safe at school. [t's one of the fundamentals of lite.” It’s an issue made more compelling by the recent murders of students by other students in Littleton, Colorado and Taber, Alberta. The kids at Carson Graham have decided violence has no place in their school — and they put a lot of energy into getting the message out. A group of them, many of them peer counsellors, formed an anti- violence group they dubbed the Peace Corps. Through presentations and skits to clementary school students and the lower grades at) Carson Graham, and through assemblies that included senior students, the Peace Corps shared information about preventing violence. ‘The kids have started a dialowue, and now terms like “contlict resolution” and “anger Management” have become commonplace around the school. Right now thev’re planning an “Open Your Eyes Week” to celebrate the diversity of students at the school, which kas more than 350 students in programs, all of them from a wide range of back- grounds. Many of the students also belong to the North Shore-wide Youth Together Against Violence Network. Ata recent network meeting, ideas and opinions were ting about the causes of violence and about ways to prevent it. “You think something like Colorado would never happen here, but it can,” said one student. of people don’t express the anger the They hope that if the younger students naw, it will make a diff “Gn ihe skits to the vounger kids we talk about ignoring people or being mean — that’s violence too,” said one member of the Peace Corps. “We tell them you don’t have to fight, you have no one to prove vourself to, It takes a stronger person to walk away. By all accounts, the atmosphere at the school has improved dramaticall “It’s really to th fit of those kids,” said Brown. Sanday, May 2. 1994 - Nonr. an News - 3 SUNDAY FOCUS Youth resources offered WE need to make connec: tiens to prevent the kind of violence that struck in Colorado and in Alberia recently, says Carson Graham principal Lar Brown. “Its something where the work is never finished. The kids need to tech connected to their school so thar no one tecls ahenated or isolated.” {vou are a student ora pareat whe has questions or concerns about violence, vou can call the Youth Against Violence Line, | 800-680 4204. Setup by the Ministry of the Artterney General. the fine is a sate, confidential means of gerang help. If vou wish to speak toa vouth worker or counsellor: Capilano | Community Services: 988-7175, ’ Area Youth irvicus: 929-3466; | orth Shore Neighbourhood House: 987- 8131; M@ Squamish Nation Youth Centre: 980-398 1, le Youth Centre: — Deana Lancaster NEWS photo Brad Ledwidge NORTH Vancouver resident Shona Fraser is creating a youth violence prevention manual and is also a member of the YTAV Fighting violence a key focus of this year’s Youth Week Deana Lancaster Termination). News Reporter deana@nsnews.com TODAY is the first day of Youth Week 1999, But instead of attention focused where it should be — on celebrating the achievements of our young people — there are questions, rumours and concerns about the safety of our schools, You should know that our North Shore teens are m. ng a statement abcut violence — they want none of it The North Shore Youth Together Against Violence Network sprouted cut of a youth conterence held last fall by CAVEAT (Canadians Against Vioience Everywhere Advocating Keith Ramzan, the regional youth coordinator for th Community Justice Branch of the atrorney general's ministry, said the network is a centralized program tor the North Shore, drawing in kids from school- and community-based youth action teams. Kids like members of Carson Graham's Peace Corps, s s from St. Thomas Aquinas and other local high schools, s Hike 17-year-old correspondence student Shona Fraser. She’s working with Pisa McCarthy, youth developm worker for North Vancouver City and District, to develop a youth violence prevention manual. The network “gives them a chance to share ideas and pro- jects they're working on,” said Ramzan. It runs with his support and that of McCarthy, the RCMP and the community-based Together Against Violence Network, Since the network’s inception its members have listened to speakers talk about subjects ranging from conflict resolution and celebr, versity to action planning and restorative c "hey are currently planning the second annual Light Up The Night Against Violence march, Thursday, May 6. Held in con- junction with Youth Week, the event will start at 7:30 p.m. at the Lonsdale Ree Centre. Community members of all ages are invited to join the march down Lonsdale and wind up at Waterfront Park for speeches, skits and a concert by local bands.