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CONTACT PERSON:
VALERIE WILLARD
PUBLIC INFORMATION OFFICER
(504) 599-0319
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APRIL 25, 2002 |
FOR
IMMEDIATE RELEASE |
Fourth
Circuit Court of Appeal Judges Patricia R. Murray and Terri
F. Love, Co-Chairs for the 2002 "Do The Write Thing Challenge"
New Orleans Campaign to Stop Violence, hosted a recognition
ceremony today at the Louisiana Supreme Court honoring 77
New Orleans Public School finalists whose award-winning essays,
poems and lyrics answered the question, "What can I do to
stop the violence in my life?" The students were chosen as
finalists from seventh and eighth grade New Orleans public
school students who responded to the 2002 "Do The Write Thing
Challenge."
Since its inception
eight years ago, the "Do The Write Thing Challenge" has prompted
over 30,000 students from cities, such as, Atlanta, Chicago,
Detroit, Hartford, Houston, Las Vegas, Los Angeles, Miami,
New Orleans, New York, Philadelphia and Washington, D.C.,
to think about their role in society and to realize that they
have a responsibility and the power to change their environment.
" 'Do The Write Thing'
identifies and rewards promising inner city New Orleans youth
who have faced and coped with violent adversity in their lives.
By taking time to consider what an individual can do, and
then to put their thoughts in written words, each student
acknowledges that they can make positive lifetime choices
and that these choices can affect not only themselves but
their neighborhoods and cities," Judge Murray said.
Judge Love added, "The
National Campaign To Stop Violence is a coalition of organizations
inspired by the words of these students. The coalition hopes
that the words and passion of these students will motivate
adults in New Orleans and around the country to respond to
the young peoples' personal commitment to seek solutions to
violence."
Louisiana State Representative
Cedric Richmond, District 101, joined the judges in congratulating
the students, giving special recognition to Sheldon Bridges
from P.A. Capdeau Junior High School and Keith Nailor from
Martin Luther King, Jr. School for Science and Technology,
who were selected as the 2001 National finalists; and to Derrell
Randolph from Livingston Middle School and Ashley Harrison
from Francis W. Gregory Junior High School, who were selected
as 2002 National Finalists.
Organizations participating
in the National Campaign to Stop Violence include the Council
of Great City Schools, the National Association of Secondary
School Principals, the National Council of Juvenile and Family
Court Judges, the Young Astronaut Council, the National Guard
Bureau and the Greater Washington Urban League.
Funding for the "Do
The Write Thing Challenge" has been provided by the Kuwait-America
Foundation, in appreciation for the United States' leadership
in the Gulf War, and the United States Department of Justice's
Office of Juvenile Justice and Delinquency Prevention.
For more information
about the 2002 "Do The Write Thing Challenge" New Orleans
Campaign to Stop Violence Judge Patricia
R. Murray at (504) 592-0945 or Judge Terri F. Love at (504)
592-0921.
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