Why Ninth Graders?
The challenges in our urban capitols causing the tension that too often explodes in marches, protests, and demands for justice did not develop overnight. The solutions won't happen overnight either. The Summit begins with ninth graders for two reasons. At the ninth grade our youth are more impressionalbe and less like to have been personally prejudiced towards law inforcement. Secondly, with opportunity to return to the summit each year until graduation gives our team at least four years to cultivate influential young leaders.
Why Local Police Officers?
Many of the fears, stereotypes and miscommunications that plague the interactions of our police and communities at risk are predicated upon a lack of relationship. Relationship don't with vulnerability, transparency, and TIME. At some point in our attempts to coexist there has to be boots-on-the-ground relationship building where the officers are with the badge, uniform and weapon and the boys are with their crew, the clic and their 'hood.
Why Begin at the Local NFL Club Headquarters?
Most NFL club level spaces are closed to the public facilities. Our partnership with the local NFL club provides for a Victory even before the retreat begins. In addition, the club demonstrates to the community that the local relationship between law enforcement and students is an important one. For a student, and even for officers for that matter, to literally sit where their local football hero sits is a pretty impressive way to begin a weekend retreat.
Why Take the group out of the City?
"A change of place plus a change of pace equals a change of perspective". - Mark Batterson
It may take two hours to get the student out of the city and two days to get the city out of the kid. After that, everyone is primed for a new perspective. Media fills our students live's everyday. Much of that media is counter-productive to the new messages hope and relationship and trust we are attempting educate the students and officers with for leadership. A change of environment is quintessential for such learning to take place.
It may take two hours to get the student out of the city and two days to get the city out of the kid. After that, everyone is primed for a new perspective. Media fills our students live's everyday. Much of that media is counter-productive to the new messages hope and relationship and trust we are attempting educate the students and officers with for leadership. A change of environment is quintessential for such learning to take place.
