From L-R: Justin Bockmore (WE), Chelsea Shortland (WE), Samantha Block (WE), Anne Zacharias (WE), Grace Brown (AM), Alyssa Sayers (MI) and Michelle Kepic (AL)

September 16, 2010 -- Lorain County JVS Early Childhhod Education (ECE) students hosted a special motivational program for all JVS students called "Rachel's Challenge," an outreach program started by the family of Rachel Scott, the first person killed at Columbine High School.

"Rachel's Challenge" is a national program being presented at high schools around the world. The program is designed to help students:
- reach their peers with violence prevention education
- recognize warning signs of potential youth violence
- encourage young people to report troubling behavior
- collaborate with school and community resources to address youth violence
- develop and implement local action projects to reduce the potential for violence in their school.

Students had the opportunity to sign a banner accepting Rachel's challenge-to start a "chain reaction" of kindness and compassion as a means to improve their school, community and ultimately their world.

ECE students will present the positive effects this program has had at the Regional FCCLA (Family Career and Community Leaders of America) career-technical leadership rally to be held at the JVS.

"Students worked to bring 'Rachel's Challenge' to the JVS as part of FCCLA's STOP The Violence Campaign," stated JVS Instructor Lisa Robson. "STOP The Violence is FCCLA's national platform to empower young people with the attitudes, skills, and resources they need to recognize, report and reduce youth violence."

Funding for this event was made possible by the Lorain County JVS VYC (Vocational Youth Clubs) and a grant from the Lorain County Prosecutor's office.