Wednesday, September 27, 2000
Hamilton officer's program helps out 'the good kids'
By Janice Morse
The Cincinnati Enquirer
HAMILTON — This summer, a new program taught eight adolescents a little bit of Latin — and a lot about their place in the world.
Their motto was Non nobis solum nati sumus, which means roughly: “We are not born for ourselves alone.”
Their efforts to improve themselves and their community — which included lessons ranging from responsibility to landscape beautification of public spaces — will be recognized at today's City Council meeting.
The pilot program, which is being held out as a national model, was the brainchild of Hamilton Police Officer Courtney York. She noticed that many summer programs seem to target “at-risk” youth. “But what about all the good kids?” she asked. “They are future role models, who are going to be leaders of their community. Why isn't there anything for them?”
So Officer York wrote a grant proposal that would add a summer component to the Gang Resistance Education and Training (GREAT) program that she has taught for four years. The federal Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco and Firearms, which sponsors GREAT, provided a $52,000 grant to cover Officer York's yearlong salary and supplies.
“We were so excited that this original concept that Courtney came up with not only was noticed by our federal government and by the Justice Department, but that they thought this should serve as a model for other police departments throughout the country,” said Police Chief Neil Ferdelman. “There are lessons that she has built into her program that are going to stay with these kids for a long time.”
Parental involvement
The summer program became known as FROGS — Future Role models of GREAT. The goal is to help intelligent, well-
behaved and talented youngsters realize how much they can affect their surroundings, Officer York said.
“You can't go through life and say, "I only care about what goes on in my house, on my street and in my school,'” she said. “You have to look at the bigger picture, and the sooner we get them to realize that, the more they will accomplish.”
Officer York said she selected the participants from among more than 1,000 GREAT students she taught last academic year in five Hamilton schools in kindergarten through seventh grades. They were chosen for their congenial nature, class performance and leadership potential.
Officer York noticed that all of these successful youngsters had at least one thing in common: Their parents were involved in their lives.
“All of them wanted to know where their kids were going, who they were going to be with and how long they were going to be gone,” she said. “A lot of parents just aren't involved — and the fact that these kids are doing so well I think is because they have parents who are.”
Craig Strunk, 14, an eighth-grader at Garfield Junior High School, said the program changed his self-concept and his attitude.
“Before the program, I felt like I was just another person,” he said. “After the program ... I learned I can make a difference.”
Craig said he's interested in a career in law enforcement. Officer York pointed out that his enthusiasm and energy helped him win the “spirit award” at this summer's Respect for Law Camp.
Lessons afield
The group met weekly and took field trips to destinations such as the Pyramid Hill Sculpture Park, the Museum Center at Union Terminal and the Beach waterpark.
In between, Officer York snuck in lessons such as envisioning what a great society would be like, considering how even small actions can have a big impact on others, and to think about what qualities are really important in a best friend, a boyfriend or girlfriend.
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