[Congressional Record Volume 141, Number 204 (Tuesday, December 19, 1995)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E2401]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                  PEACEBUILDERS CAN SAVE OUR CHILDREN

                                 ______


                       HON. GEORGE E. BROWN, JR.

                             of california

                    in the house of representatives

                       Monday, December 18, 1995

  Mr. BROWN of California. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to highlight an 
education and crime prevention program in my district, PeaceBuilders. 
This innovative program may help save our children and greatly reduce 
the number of young lives that enter the criminal justice system.
  Crime and violence in our schools is a problem high on my list of 
concerns, for its negative effects touch us all. Having looked for 
solutions over the years, I feel encouraged by the model used in the 
PeaceBuilders Program.
  In 1992, Dr. Dennis Embry, a licensed child psychologist, started the 
nationally known violence prevention program called PeaceBuilders. 
PeaceBuilders has been selected as one of three projects by the Center 
for Disease Control as a promising national model for elementary school 
students. The program teaches children to praise people, give up put 
downs, seek wise adults, notice hurts and right wrongs.
  Over 150 schools in 17 states make up the network of PeaceBuilders. 
Schools participating in the program notice immediate changes in 
student behavior. The number of student suspensions, playground 
problems and injuries decrease. What is the magic of this program? The 
formula includes partnerships between all elements of a child's 
environment that means active participation by parents, school 
personnel and the community. The program targets children during the 
formative years, before habits of aggression are firmly fixed. It is 
based on the African concept that it takes an entire village to raise a 
child. Everyone must reinforce the concepts of the program and, 
therefore, everyone is affected by the program.

  I recently visited Emmerton Elementary, a school in my district that 
has had a PeaceBuilders Program in operation there since March 1994. 
The program is making a difference. The Emmerton model is providing a 
means for everyone from custodian to school administrator, 
businessperson, parent and student to have a role in creating a better 
world. I was inspired by what I saw at Emmerton.
  Inland Agency, a non-profit organization serving the Inland area of 
Southern California, is the first organization to introduce 
PeaceBuilders in California and has been successful in launching it 
since March of 1994 in 87 educational sites throughout San Bernardino 
and Riverside counties. Inland agency serves as the link between the 
schools, business, civic and community organizations to help secure 
sponsorships and to provide local trainers and technical assistance. 
Numerous business and civic organizations including State Farm 
Insurance, TARGET, Rotary, and Kiwanis have undertaken volunteer 
projects and have provided financial sponsorship of the PeaceBuilders 
Program for elementary schools throughout the Inland area.
  In the Inland Empire over 31,020 students are enrolled in 
PeaceBuilder programs and are learning to be builders of peace. In 
1996, Inland Agency projects an enrollment of 40,000 to 60,000 
students. It is possible to create a better environment in our 
respective cities if we work together (families, schools, businesses 
and law enforcement) to nurture the seeds of peace that PeaceBuilders 
has given us.

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