S.O.U.L.

S.O.U.L After-School Workshop series operating out of Detroit, Highland Park and Inkster Public Schools

Today's youth grow up in a fast paced world. Around every corner there are temptations and pressures to join a gang, carry a gun or to sell drugs. Television and movies often make this world seem glamorous, but for those who have lived this kind of life and paid for it dearly, it is anything but glamorous, that is the message Pioneers for Peace want to send to our youth: violence doesn't pay. In many cases it comes with a price.

Not all Pioneer for Peace members are injured as a result of risky lifestyle choices. Some were the innocent victims of crimes such as car-jackings, domestic violence and drive-by shootings. Stories such as these really make the students stop and think about how thoughtless actions can drastically affect other peoples' lives and their own.

The S.O.U.L (School of Urban Life) after school workshop series is designed to educate and equip urban youth with the necessary skills and information needed to successfully overcome daily challenges they face in their lives along with obtaining the abilities to accomplish their goals.

This innovative series of workshops hits at the heart of many issues facing today's urban youth, along with taking a unique approach that helps at-risk youth develop or enhance their self-determination and conflict resolution skills. Our aim is to also provide students with the opportunity to participate in the planning of a Community Service Project.

S.O.U.L

(School Of Urban Life)

After School Workshop Series

Topic Menu

Methods: group discussions, information presentations, skill training guest speakers, community experiences, and other methods.

Month	Topic
January	Violence Prevention & Awareness
February	Black History & Culture
March	Hip-Hop Movement & Poetic Expressions
April	Self-Determination & Conflict Resolution
May	Music & Media Influence
June	Community Service Project

A select number of students from the participating schools will form a Student Advisory Committee. This committee will be encouraged to take part in the planning and programming of a Community Service Project.

Our projected outcome for the S.O.U.L After School Workshop Series is for participants to have a 50% or more reduction in:

number of violent acts involving participating students,

number of suspensions,

number of detentions, and

number of times removed from the classroom.

We are extremely hopeful and optimistic that the formation of the student Advisory Committee will be just the first step in the development of Student Pioneer for Peace Chapters being formed at the various participating schools. One tremendous long term benefit from this would be the establishment of a continuum for ongoing peer support that breeds positive peer pressure!

During the school year, our program will operate Monday thru Friday for one and a half hours per workshop at each of the schools for a period of up to 20 weeks. The S.O.U.L. after school workshop series is designed to accommodate 50 students per school. Each after school workshop will be facilitated by two Pioneers for Peace Outreach Specialists.

For more information about the after-school workshop series or to schedule a Pioneer for Peace presentation, please contact:

Weusi Olusola

Rehabilitation Institute of Michigan

261 Mack Blvd., Suite 208

Detroit, MI 48201

Or call:

(313) 745-5053

Pioneering for the preservation of our future!

Presentation Feedback

"The most important thing I learned was that we need to be responsible for our actions and think before we react. Make the right choices. Do the right thing."

Student

"This program reinforced some of the things that are regularly discussed at home. I think this program taught my daughter about some real cause and effect situations."

Parent of Student Participant

"The Pioneers taught me that you should never play with a gun because you can make a mistake and kill or injure an innocent person."

Student

"This was a very enlightening program, because so many of our students do not understand the reality or the consequences of living a fast and violent life. The program had a significant impact on our youngsters."

Middle School Counselor

significant impact on our youngsters."

Middle School Counselor