PHILADELPHIA (KYW Newsradio) — John Bartram High School is getting a $1 million grant to start a program to reduce violence in Southwest Philadelphia.
Bartram was selected based on an uptick of threats and violence in the community.
About 50 Bartram High students are expected to be enrolled in the program. It’s targeted at those considered most at-risk to be victims or perpetrators of violence.
“The students will be involved in the streets or gang-involved,” said Brandy Blasko with the School District of Philadelphia’s Office of School Safety.
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“The purpose of this program is to engage them, mentor them in terms of disengaging in gang involvement or not getting involved in gangs. There is a prevention component, instead connecting them to other services, whether that is employment, educational opportunities, behavioral health opportunities, sports, things like that.“
The $1 million grant is from the federal Department of Justice’s Office of Juvenile Justice and Delinquency Prevention. It will help fund two Cure Violence outreach workers, consultants from Temple University, a community engagement expert, and case management software.
The school district says that the program will be evaluated before implementing it at other schools.
Christopher Braxton, a 17-year-old student, was shot and killed outside of the school in January.
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