The "My Block" student conference took place on April 26, 2007.  It was the result of more than six months of planning and collaborating among the Cleveland Branch NAACP, El Barrio, Catalyst Cleveland, and the American Civil Liberties Union of Ohio.

It was a truly revolutionary idea - the first time that students from various backgrounds and different schools were encouraged to join a dialogue with each other about how to build bridges and improve relationships with law enforcement.  The conference was revolutionary on other fronts also - it represented a unique opportunity for city officials and police officers to dissolve misconceptions and work directly with students to build mutual understanding and solve problems.

During the "My Block" student conference, students attended workshops designed to help them understand their rights and develop effective communication strategies. Using these workshops as a base, the students then broke up into smaller groups to create an action plan detailing ways to improve relations with the police and encourage civic participation among youth.

The results were astounding.  Students had great vision for the future and were excited about this opportunity to interact with police and city officials.  At the end of the day, the students presented their action plans to a listening panel.  The listening panel consisted of city officials, civic leaders, and police leadership.  These representatives listened enthusiastically and responded to the recommendations given by the students.

Since the conference, the buzz about "My Block" has continued.  Positive feedback about the program has poured in, follow-up meetings have been held with the City of Cleveland, and discussions are in the works to duplicate the program elsewhere in Ohio.  Plans are being made for additional public education programs dealing with issues of police practices, criminal justice, and juvenile justice.  Meanwhile, a new generation of student leaders is moving forward, building bridges in the community one block at a time.

Thanks for all your hard work...

• James Copland, teacher, East Cleveland School District; retired East Cleveland Commander
• Stanley Miller, executive director of the NAACP Cleveland Branch
• Meryl Johnson, teacher, Cleveland Metropolitan School District
• Deon McCaulley, commander, Bureau of Community Policing, City of Cleveland
• Ken Roberts, founder, K.C. Roberts & Associates
• The principals, guidance counselors, and teachers of the Cleveland Metropolitan School District for garnering enthusiasm and bringing students

Special thanks for financial support from the ACLU Racial Justice Project.  Click here to visit their website.

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