26 The Courier SUN • kids & education • SEPTEMBER 29, 2016 for breaking news visit www.qns.com ▶KIDS & EDUCATION DA’S ‘STAR TRACK’ PROGRAM WORKS TO BUILD PEACE IN ROCKAWAYS Queens District Attorney Richard A. Brown today announced the start of his 24th annual anti-violence program STAR (Straight Talk About Risks) Track, a Rockaway-based program Saturday, October 8, 2016 1 PM to 4 PM 71-06 31st Avenue East Elmhurst, NY 11370 “The School That Makes A Difference” for young men and women Conducted in the Educational Tradition of the Brothers o f t he S acred H eart Serving young people in the United States since 1847 that teaches youths how to work in teams to collaborate and practice peaceful conflict resolution. One of the goals of STAR Track is to counter the negative gun-related violent incidents that occur far too often in the surrounding communities with a positive message and to help youngsters make smart decisions. “As the top law enforcement officer in Queens County,” said Brown, “my job is not solely focused on prosecuting those who break the law. We are also dedicated in making real strides to prevent future crimes from ever happening. The STAR Track program is one of my favorites. Over the years we have interacted with tens of thousands of students — connecting with them not just as officers of the court, but as role models, mentors and friends.” The District Attorney’s STAR Track antiviolence program features assistant district attorneys and other members of the District Attorney’s Office, members of the New York City Corporation Counsel’s Office and members of the Queens Law Associates being assigned to classes at each of the 10 participating Far Rockaway schools — from elementary through high school — throughout the school year to talk about the risks of guns, drugs, gangs and how to make the right choices. The STAR Track program volunteers will focus on giving youngsters — fourth-graders to high school seniors — guidance on making smart decisions, resisting peer pressure, leadership skills and more. Students will have exclusive access to the day-to-day operations of the criminal justice system including trips to the Kew Gardens courthouse and Queens central booking. Each year, STAR Track hosts two big events for students: the Say No To Violence Week and the Say Yes to Tennis event. The Say No to Violence Week raises student awareness and celebrates their efforts to find healthy ways to resolve conflicts. The weeklong event includes poster and essay writing contests and special guest speakers that have included District Attorney Brown, former New York City Mayor David Dinkins, journalists and other motivational speakers. The Say Yes to Tennis event is coordinated with the USTA’s Billie Jean King National Tennis Center. The children and teenagers play teamwork-building tennis games, hear advice from professional players and other guest speakers delivering the anti-violence message.
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