The My Block Conference was a revolutionary event dedicated to building bridges between law enforcement
and youth. One hundred high school students from Cleveland City Schools participated in the dialogue on
April 26, 2007.

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, consisting of city officials, civic leaders, and police leadership.
These representatives listened enthusiastically and responded to the recommendations given by the students.
The ACLU of Ohio continues to work on issues including
police practices,
criminal justice, and
juvenile justice, and has developed a Training Manual for educators, community leaders, and others
interested in promoting dialogue between youth and law enforcement. Meanwhile, a new generation of student
leaders is moving forward, building bridges in the community one block at a time.
My Block was sponsored by Cleveland Branch NAACP, El Barrio, Catalyst Cleveland, and the American Civil
Liberties Union of Ohio. Special thanks for financial support from the ACLU Racial Justice Project. Click
here to visit their website.
Click here for pictures.
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