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Sponsored By: Senator Jane Clare OrieStudents Together Organizing Prevention (S.T.O.P.) Convention
8th Annual S.T.O.P. Convention Watch the 2008 Video
Part 1 (running time 1 hour
15 minutes) Contact Senator Orie's office for more information at 412-630-9466 Students Together Organizing Prevention (S.T.O.P.) is the largest and most successful coalition of schools (urban, suburban, and rural) and organizations to directly address issues facing our youth today. The S.T.O.P. Convention is entirely focused on students and their message to other students about issues such as school violence, drugs, verbal and physical abuse, bullying, sexual harassment, rape, and the dangers of drinking. The overwhelming success of the program is due to the use of peer to peer and not adult to youth messaging, which is more effective in relaying a theme of violence prevention and interaction between urban, suburban, and rural schools. The organization is entering its 8th year of expansion and growth with increasing partnership to reach more students and avenues of prevention. S.T.O.P. was founded by State Senator Jane Clare Orie. She also serves as a chair member along with Richard Garland and Chairman Dr. Donald Lee. Over 1,300 students from over 30 schools participate in the program. Unfortunately in today's world, drugs and violence are present in every school district across Pennsylvania. These problems affect everyone regardless of color, race, ethnicity, socio-economic status, urban or suburban. The strongest prevention and intervention method to combat these problems is through the S.T.O.P. Convention, which makes it unique. The power of the convention comes from the students who participate and send the messages to their fellow peers through skits, and then facilitate a discussion for everyone in attendance to synthesize ideas. The students are heard by all who attend and take the message of violence prevention and intervention back to their school and fellow peers.
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