Youth ECHO

Last week, Youth ECHO, our effort to enlist teen leaders in the Red Hook Houses in marketing anti-crime values to their peers, held a large public event in Coffey Park. Several hundred local residents stopped by to eat hot dogs and burgers, to catch a talent show and to watch a short documentary about the Youth ECHO participants. Youth ECHO's message is a simple one: "Dealing Drugs: It's Not Worth It." They have chosen a wide array of vehicles to transmit this message, including t-shirts, stencils, a myspace page and a downloadable ringtone. Independence Community Foundation has been a principal force behind-the-scenes with Youth ECHO, encouraging us to test a new approach to preventing youth crime and helping to link us with useful partners. Congrats to Elise and Ericka for rising to this challenge!