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MISSISSIPPI
| Tougaloo College 500 West County Line Road Tougaloo, MS 39174 |
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| Phone: | (601) 977-6179 |
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| Fax: | (601) 978-1310 |
| Title: | Tougaloo College Family and Community Violence Prevention Program |
| Project Period: | 08/01/03 - 07/31/06 |
| FLC Director: | Felicia T. Whittington |
| Target Group: | Students 8-11 |
| The Tougaloo College Family and Community Violence Prevention Program is a cooperative venture of community-based partners including Walton Elementary School, parents, higher education institutions, private enterprises/corporations, local civic and community-based organizations, law enforcement, and government agencies. It addresses the problem of youth violence experienced by families and individuals in the African American community in Jackson, Mississippi through the mobilization of community partners. The project provides violence prevention services, academic enrichment, mentoring initiatives, family support services, and family bonding activities to increase academic performance and reduce antisocial behaviors and levels of violence committed by at-risk youth. The academic year program serves 35 at-risk Walton Elementary School youth and their families through the After-School Violence Prevention/Academic Enrichment Program, mentoring initiatives, Saturday Academy recreational programs, community service projects, family strengthening functions, and parental skills development workshops and seminars. Cultural/recreational weekend activities and field trips, such as visits to museums, historical landmarks, and amusement parks are also provided. A collaborative Parent-School Alliance assists in improving program participants' academic performance, addressing antisocial behaviors, and preventing students from dropping out of school. A four-week summer program consisting of academic enrichment and violence prevention activities is conducted for 50% of the youth enrolled in the academic year program and a number of new participants. The summer program assists students in overcoming basic skills deficits and acquiring more practical hands-on experience for understanding factors associated with conflict and violence. Tougaloo College students serve as mentors for the FCVP Big Brother/Big Sisters Mentoring Initiative and assist with tutoring and implementation of other program activities. |