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From YouTube: BPS and Sandy Hook Promise Kickoff Event
Description
Many parents who lost their children at the mass shooting at Sandy Hook Elementary School in 2012 have turned their grief in to action. At Boston Public Schools headquarters in Roxbury's Bolling Building, Superintendent Dr. Tommy Chang announces a partnership with Sandy Hook Promise to implement strategies for preventing gun violence.
A
A
A
A
In
the
last
six
months,
I've
been
located
down
the
street
at
Boston,
Latin
Academy
I
have
witnessed
firsthand
an
amazing
melting
pot
of
police
and
backgrounds,
and
these
people
truly
value
the
protection
of
children,
and
they
have
taken
meaningful
action
not
only
in
the
schools
but
in
their
community
in
order
to
make
them
a
better
place.
I
would
like
to
think
I
wouldn't
now
like
to
bring
up
dr.
Chang
to
the
podium.
Dr.
Chang
has
been
as
champion
for
Sandy
Hook
promise
in
a
visionary
for
Boston
Public,
Schools
future.
C
B
It's
important
day
as
we
launched
this
critical
new
partnership
I
want
to
thank
all
the
staff
for
being
here
today
and
all
the
organizing
it
took
to
make
this
happen.
I
want
to
thank
some
distinguished
guests,
I'd
like
to
start
with
Nicole
Oakley
for
being
here
today,
managing
founder
and
managing
director
for
Sandy
Hook
promise,
Massachusetts
attorney
general
Maura
Healey.
Thank
you
for
being
here.
Attorney
General,
Tom
Ahern
was
the
chief
of
the
mayor's
Office
of
Public
Safety.
B
We
also
have
Chief
of
Education
Ron
Dorsey,
who
is
here
so
thank
you
all
for
working
very
closely
to
making
sure
that
this
day
happens.
I'm
really
encouraged
that
a
Sandy
Hook
promise
this
year
in
Boston,
Public,
Schools,
Nicole
and
other
co-founders
are
courageously
working
with
schools
across
the
country
to
foster
a
culture.
The
conclusion
and
teach
us
all
how
to
spot
warning
signs.
We
know
that
youth
violence,
bullying,
harmful
behaviors
affect
schools,
each
and
every
single
day
in
school
districts
across
America
and
as
educators.
B
C
B
C
B
Them
a
very
simple
question:
I
asked
them:
are
we
moving
in
the
right
direction?
Are
we
making
sure
our
young
people
are
feeling
safe
and
welcome?
And
I
was
really
in
my
mind
in
my
heart,
I
was
hopeful
that
a
good
number
of
these
1,000
highly
altruistic
young
people,
I
mean
the
is
AmeriCorps.
These
are
young
people
who
are
giving
a
year
of
their
life
to
serving
others.
I
was
really
hopeful.
I
would
see
a
good
number
of
people
raise
their
hands
and
to
my
disbelief
there
are
only
two
or
three
hands
that
were
raised.
B
I
believe
deeply,
that,
as
such
a
diverse
country,
we
have
diverse
racially
culturally,
linguistically,
socially
economically,
we
actually
mostly
get
along
when
we
compare
ourselves
to
other
countries
around
the
world.
We
should
be
very
proud
that
people
in
this
country
generally
to
work
together,
but
we
cannot.
B
We
cannot
ignore
the
fact
that
many
of
our
young
people
still
do
not
feel
safe,
welcomed
now,
in
only
in
our
schools,
in
our
community
and
unfortunately
even
in
our
country,
and
so
that's
why
I'm
Boston
Public
Schools
our
number
one
priority
is
to
foster
safe,
welcoming
and
sustaining
environments
for
all
students,
families
and
staff,
regardless
of
their
race,
their
culture
and
the
immigration
status
or
native
language,
their
socioeconomic
status
and
sustaining
means.
We
need
to
make
sure
we
understand.
Every
young
person's
identity
is
the
strength.
B
The
opportunity
achievement
gap
will
continue
to
persist
if
we
do
not
focus
on
three
things:
academic
learning,
social-emotional
learning,
which
is
about
the
knowledge,
the
attitudes
and
skills
necessary
to
understand
and
manage
one's
emotions
and
culturally
and
linguistically
sustained
practices.
And
that's
why
this
worked
in
this
partnership
with
the
Sandy
Hook
promise
is
so
important.
It
is
a
holistic.
It
is
a
comprehensive
approach
to
making
sure
our
students
are
feeling
valued,
they're,
feeling
empowered
and
they're
feeling
safe
during
today's
presentation.
B
In
addition
to
getting
a
program
overview,
you
will
learn
more
about
start
with
hello
week
which
begins
February.
Fifth,
start
with
hello:
build
off
of
social-emotional
learning
that
is
already
occurring
our
schools,
something
as
simple
as
saying
hello
or
encouraging
students
to
talk
or
play
to
two
other
students
may
appear
isolated,
who
made
a
pure
isolated,
leads
to
less
bullying,
less
violence
and
less
depression.
The
statistics
you
will
hear
today
are
troubling,
but
they
also
point
out
two
steps
and
actions
that
we
as
school
leaders
can
take
to
prevent
violence
from
occurring.
B
B
D
D
D
As
a
part
of
my
role,
I
seek
out
these
kinds
of
opportunities
to
better
enhance
students,
experiences
in
Boston
Public
Schools
now,
when
I
walked
into
the
room
today.
If
somebody
said
to
me,
thank
you
for
bringing
the
Sandy
Hook
promise
to
Boston
I
said
I
didn't
know
such
thing
when
Nicole
and
her
team
reached
out
to
me,
I
simply
had
the
good
sense
to
connect
them
with
the
people
who
do
the
work,
and
so
that's
all
I
can
claim.
But
there
are
many
people
in
the
room
who
should
take
credit.
D
But
we
know
that
this
work
is
important
to
do,
because
programs
that
are
able
to
prevent
violence
also
improve
school
culture
and
when
school
culture
is
improved,
we
know
that
the
capacity
for
learning
increases
exponentially.
The
ease
with
which
Sandy
Hook
promises
programs
can
be
implemented
was
key
to
us
in
joining
forces
with
the
program.
All
four
of
their
programs
are
free
and
intended
to
be
self
led.
D
Each
teacher,
each
classroom
or
school
is
encouraged
to
put
their
own
stamp
on
the
program
and
make
sure
that
it
is
powerful
for
the
students
who
are
in
front
of
them.
Bps
is
excited
to
be
a
part
of
a
list
of
large
and
diverse
and
committed
school
systems,
who
are
a
part
of
the
Sandy
Hook
promise,
including
Miami
Dade,
Chicago
and
Los
Angeles
they've
all
signed
on
to
the
know
the
science
program-
and
we
are
happy
to
be
the
next
among
them,
by
ensuring
that
as
many
students
and
faculty
have
the
tools
that
they
need.
D
We
have
another
system
in
place
to
keep
them
in
safe
and
productive
environments.
The
skills
are
youth
and
adults
will
learn,
will
also
be
a
benefit
to
them
outside
of
school
and
I'm
hopeful
that
the
ripple
effect
of
prevention
will
reach
far
beyond
the
classroom
and
to
Boston
community
so
again,
I.
Thank
you.
I
have
the
honor
of
also
thanking
Makeba
McCreery,
who
is
here
our
director
of
External
Affairs,
who
was
also
integral
in
making
sure
that
this
partnership
happened
and
the
person
who
will
now
come
to
the
podium.
D
E
E
E
My
I
won't
speak
to
the
power
of
Nicole
and
Entertainment
in
her
leadership.
Team
I
think
Ron
did
that
very
eloquently,
as
did
dr.
Chang.
So
many
years
ago,
when
dr.
McCreary
lived
a
different
life,
she
spent
some
time
working
for
an
organization
connected
to
Michael
Jordan
and
one
of
the
things
that
came
out
of
this.
E
E
E
But
there
is
no
organization
that
I
can
think
of
that
understands.
Rarely
it
is
that
the
the
big
announcements,
the
big
systems,
the
big
programs
that
really
make
a
difference
for
our
young
people-
it's
really
the
small
things
that
do
everyday
for
each
other,
I'm,
looking
out
at
all
the
leadership
of
all
of
our
schools.
E
You
know
my
role
in
in
my
past
life
I
was
the
chief
of
the
gang.
You
know
here
in
Boston
and
spent
a
lot
of
time
around
families
that
have
lost
loved
ones
in
a
lot
of
time
around
our
friends
and
neighbors
that
are
impacted
by
violence.
There
is
no
public
official
that
I
can
think
of
maybe
short
of
the
wonderful
partner
that
I
will
announce.
Then
mayor
Walsh.
That
really
understands
the
significance
of
the
little
things
that
we
do
want
a
day-to-day
basis
that
make
all
of
the
difference.
E
Most
of
you
are
familiar
with
his
own
personal
story,
but
he
understands
how
a
tap
on
the
shoulder
a
phone
call,
a
reassuring
glance
can
make
the
difference
between
desperation,
lack
of
hope,
isolation
and
potentially
an
act
of
violence.
So
on
his
behalf
as
Ron
laid
out,
I
am
just
really
humbled
to
be
here
for
him.
E
There
are
far
too
many
people
to
thank
Ron
already
touched
on
bps
staff,
but
I
do
want
to
say
to
many
of
the
behavioral
health,
the
mental
health,
the
educators,
our
friends
from
Samaritans
that
are
in
the
room.
It's
a
really
enormous
privilege
to
have
you
here
with
us.
We
have
representatives
from
our
street
worker
program.
There
are
also
in
the
room
that
truly
understand
the
importance
of
a
tap
on
the
shoulder
to
make
a
difference.
So
I
said
all
those
wonderful
things
about
you
and
Mayor
Walsh
and
just
bear
with
me
for
a
moment.
E
I
have
had
the
great
privilege
of
getting
to
know
the
Attorney
General
over
the
last
three
or
four
years.
In
my
role
for
mayor
Walsh,
she
is
someone
that
really,
if
ever
and
I
can't
think
of
occasion
where
she
said
no
I'm
not
available
or
no
I,
don't
want
to
be
helpful.
She,
both
personally
and
professionally,
understands
the
significance
of
a
conversation.
E
F
Well,
thanks
Dan,
thanks
for
that
kind
introduction,
and
for
all
that
you
do
on
behalf
of
so
many
across
the
city
and
I.
Think
that
your
work
involving
efforts
to
address
and
reduce
violence
is
something
I've
learned
a
lot
from
over
the
last
year,
a
few
years
and
I
think
that
the
continuing
partnership
we
have
as
an
attorney
general's
office
and
when
the
city
of
Boston
has
been
really
wonderful
and
deep
and
something
we're
going
to
continue.
So
thank
you
for,
for
all
the
that
you
and
your
team
do
day
in
and
day
out,
Taron.
F
Thank
you
for
what
you
brought
to
the
city
and
your
perspective.
It's
been
terrific
and
you
have
wonderful,
wonderful
educators
here
in
the
room
today,
I
want
to
echo
the
sentiments
and
say
thank
you
to
each
and
every
one
of
you
for
what
you
do.
Both
of
my
parents
were
well.
My
mom
was
a
school
nurse
and
my
dad
was
a
teacher
and
I
have
some
understanding
of
what
it
means
to
be
on
the
front
line
every
day
and
increasingly
in
our
society,
to
be
presented
with
issues
that
are
more
complicated
than
ever
before.
F
So
much
has
asked
of
you
so
much
as
demanded
of
you
and
I
just
greatly
admired
the
work
that
all
of
you
do
as
professionals
day
in
and
day
out,
to
provide
young
people
in
our
city
with
opportunities
to
learn
and
grow
and
be
their
very
best,
so
superintendent
Chang.
Thank
you
for
all
that.
You
do
I
appreciate
your
comments
about
diversity
and
inclusivity
and
the
inspiration
provided
to
students
here
who
we
want
to
see,
grow
into
AmeriCorps
members
and
beyond.
It's
a
it's
a
it's
a
great
and
wonderful
thing.
F
So
thank
you
for
inviting
me
back
to
this
building.
It's
not
my
first
trip
here,
but
it's
always
great
to
be
here
with
the
wonderful
folks
at
bps.
Thank
you
Joe
for
all
the
work
that
you
do.
We
wish
you
the
very
best
in
your
efforts.
You
know
I
want
to
give
a
special
thanks
to
the
folks
at
Sandy
Hook
promise
I
was
just
speaking
with
Nicole
I
had
an
opportunity
to
sit
with
mark
and
Tim.
F
They
came
into
my
office
not
long
ago,
and
we
talked
about
the
program
and
I
was
so
excited
that
this
program
was
taking
hold
here
in
the
city
of
Boston,
and
we
talked
about
the
ways
too
that
we
could
perhaps
amplify
it
in
other
locations
recognizing
the
importance
but
to
nicole,
especially
representing
all
of
the
incredible
families
who
have
come
together
to
launch
this
initiative.
Your
strength
is
not
only
a
guiding
light.
It
is
the
force
that
I
think
we
need
now
in
our
neighborhoods
in
our
communities
in
our
state
in
our
country.
F
More
than
ever.
So
thank
you
for
your
courage.
Thank
you
for
your
resilience
and
welcome
to
massachusetts.
To
me.
This
is
about
keeping
young
people
safe,
and
I
don't
think
there
could
be
anything
more
important
than
giving
every
young
person
the
opportunity
to
be
all
that
they
can
be
and
proud
here
in
Boston
and
the
Massachusetts
to
have
some
of
the
very
best
schools,
very
best
teachers
and
best
students
in
the
country.
F
It's
certainly
incumbent
upon
all
of
us
to
ask
the
question:
what
can
we
do
to
make
sure
this
never
happens
again
and
to
get
real
about
this
to
recognize
the
gun?
Violence
is
a
public
health
issue.
Fundamentally,
yes,
it
has
Public
Safety
ramifications,
but
fundamentally
so
much
of
this
is
a
public
health
issue
and
the
Sandy
Hook
promise
to
me
is
a
promise
that
each
of
us
can
commit
to
to
make
sure
that
we're
doing
everything
in
our
power
to
save
lives,
to
end
violence
and
to
give
our
children
the
bright
futures
they
deserve.
F
F
We
still
continue
to
see
violence
and
gun
violence
in
our
city
and
across
our
state,
and
that's
why
my
office
is
going
to
continue
to
work
hard
with
our
partners
and
cracking
down
on
illegal
gun
trafficking
and
sales
working
with
dealers
to
enforce
existing
gun
laws
like
our
assault
weapons
ban
in
urging
Congress
to
lift
the
ban
on
a
gun,
violence.
Research.
F
You
know
I
as
I
say:
I've
had
an
opportunity
over
the
last
few
years
to
meet
with
some
of
the
Sandy
Hook
in
different
contexts
and
I.
Just
can't
say
enough
about
how
much
I
admire
their
resilience
in
the
face
of
unthinkable
tragedy
and
the
effort
that
is
being
put
into
efforts
to
prevent
this
from
happening
in
other
schools
and
other
communities.
F
They've
shown
us
that
we
can
teach
young
people
and
adults
around
them,
how
to
recognize
the
warning
signs
and
to
reach
out
how
to
assess
those
signs
and
respond,
and
that's
what's
gonna,
be
happening
here
in
the
Boston
Public
Schools
and
I'm
really
grateful
to
everyone
at
Sandy,
Hook
and
Boston
Public
Schools
in
the
city
of
Boston,
for
bringing
this
forward.
You
know
for
the
last
couple
years
my
office
has
run
a
program
over
at
UMass
Boston.
F
We
bring
young
people,
young
leaders
from
schools
together,
we
lure
them
in
with
a
promise
of
a
basketball
tournament,
and
then
we
have
conversations
about
efforts
that
they
can
take
to
reduce
violence
in
their
communities,
and
we
call
it
our
gut
game
summit
every
year.
I
ask
the
students
to
write
letters
to
me
about
their
experiences.
F
This
vision
of
branches,
which
to
me
I
know,
represents
the
young
people
and
the
families,
but
more
than
that,
I
think
it
reflects
that
we're
all.
In
this
community
and
day
in
and
day
out,
I
agree.
There
are
ways
that
we
can
make
a
difference
in
ways.
It
may
seem
small,
but
are
no
less
valuable
in
terms
of
making
the
impact,
especially
now,
where
there's
a
whole
lot
of
nonsense
happening
out
there
in
the
world,
and
people
feel
that
they
maybe
have
less
power
or
opportunity
for
action
or
change.
F
So
you
got
the
full
commitment
from
the
Attorney
General's
Office
to
the
city
and
certainly
the
Sandy
Hook
promise,
and
at
this
time
I
want
to
welcome
to
the
podium
somebody
for
whom
I
have
such
a
deep
and
profound
respect,
and
it
really
is
nikole
a
tremendous
honor
for
you
to
be
with
us
today.
It's
such
a
privilege
to
know
that
we're
gonna
hear
directly
from
you
about
what
this
program
means
and
I
won't
and
I
won't
blow
it.
There's
a
wonderful
photograph
that
Nicole
is
gonna.
Gonna
show
you
and
I
really
think.
F
G
C
G
G
G
G
G
G
We
know
we
know
that
telling
the
trusted
adult
is
not
the
solution
for
every
student
and
also
for
parents.
Sometimes
you
know
home
from
school
and
Little
John
you'll,
say:
hey
I
overheard
this
on
the
bus.
What
tools
are
we
giving
for
parents
to
report
these
things
as
well?
So
we've
also
by
looking
at
best
practice
in
other
states
and
using
their
existing
software
cream?
That's
available
now.