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From YouTube: Do the Write Thing Press Conference 2-7-2019
Description
Local leaders in the judiciary, law enforcement, the School District of Philadelphia, and City Council announced the return of the Do The Write Thing Challenge to Philadelphia. Now entering its 23rd year nationwide, the Do The Write Thing Challenge was created to help individual students make a lasting commitment to take responsibility for ending violence in their lives, homes, and communities.
In attendance:
The Honorable Lori Dumas
Council President Darrell L. Clarke (5th District)
Councilmember Kenyatta Johnson, Co-Chair, Special Committee on Gun Violence Prevention
Police Commissioner Richard Ross
Dr. Malika Savoy-Brooks, Chief Academic Officer, School District of Philadelphia
Ebony Wortham, Esq., coordinator, Do The Write Thing Challenge
Jenyce Michelle Woodruff, Esq., coordinator, Do The Write Thing Challenge
April Brown, Principal, Laura Wheeler Waring School
A
Good
afternoon
everyone,
my
name,
is
ebony
wertham
and
I
am
the
supervisor
of
the
juvenile
unit
in
the
Philadelphia
District
Attorney's
Office,
and
one
of
the
coordinators
of
the
do
the
right
thing.
Philadelphia
program.
We
are
very
very
excited
to
announce
the
reestablishment
of
do
the
right
thing.
In
Philadelphia
today
we
have
city
leaders
from
the
District
Attorney's
Office
city
council
and
the
School
District
of
Philadelphia
here
today
to
talk
to
you
about
the
do
the
right
thing
program
and
its
significance
here
in
the
city
of
Philadelphia.
A
But
first
let
me
introduce
the
chair
of
the
do
the
right
thing
program:
the
Honorable
Judge
Lori
Dumas.
She
has
been
a
tireless
advocate
for
children
in
the
city
of
Philadelphia
for
nearly
20
years,
and
today
she
builds
on
that
work
by
establishing
and
initiating
the
deuteron
campaign
here
in
Philadelphia
and
by
creating
very
important
partnerships
with
city
leaders
across
the
city
of
Philadelphia.
Would
you
please
welcome
me
and
joining
and
asking
judge,
Lori
Dumas
to
join
us
here
on
the
podium.
B
The
do
the
right
thing
challenge
program
seeks
to
empower
youth
through
their
artistic
expressions
with
the
ability
to
read
to
reduce
youth
violence
according
to
the
Office
of
Juvenile,
Justice
and
delinquency
prevention,
60%
of
all,
American
youth
are
exposed
to
violence,
crime
or
abuse.
At
some
point,
research
has
shown
that
students
involved
in
the
do
the
right
thing
challenge
have
more
positive,
behaviors
and
attitudes
towards
their
peers
and
teachers,
but
participants
also
walk
away
motivated
to
do
more
in
their
communities
to
make
them
safe.
B
Hundreds
of
schools
across
the
country
have
been
given
this
unique
opportunity
to
communicate
their
thoughts
on
the
impact
of
violence
in
their
lives
and,
more
importantly,
to
make
a
personal
commitment
to
reduce
violence.
It
is
important
that
we
hear
from
young
people
and
promote
early
intervention
strategies
in
our
schools
to
help
create
dialogue
with
our
youth.
One
thing
that
makes
this
campaign
unique
is
that
students
are
encouraged
to
submit
their
work
through
various
forms
of
expression.
Students
can
communicate
their
thoughts
in
many
creative
ways
through
essays,
plays
songs
and
poems
the
do.
B
We
are
so
excited
to
have
the
district
attorney's
office,
the
School
District
of
Philadelphia
and
the
Philadelphia
Police
Department
on
board,
and
here
with
us
today,
Philly
Philadelphia,
City
Council
was
also
very,
very
instrumental
in
helping
us
reestablish.
The
program,
citywide
and
I
think
that
we
all
know
that
in
order
to
impact
significantly
any
issue
that
plagues
our
society,
such
as
violence,
it
takes
a
partnership,
it
takes
collaborations
with
stakeholders
and
we
all
have
to
work
as
a
team
to
bring
about
change.
B
So
I
just
want
to
especially
thank
the
school
district
for
its
partnership
and
support
and
getting
our
schools
on
board.
We
have
a
principal
here
today
from
one
of
our
participating
schools,
the
district
attorney's
office,
and
it's
representative
that
you'll
hear
from
shortly
mr.
Liston
be
the
Philadelphia
Police
Department
represented
by
its
head
agent.
B
Our
police
commissioner,
Ross,
is
here
with
us
today
and
City
Council.
We
have
city
council
here
as
well
city,
council
member
excuse
me
city,
council,
member
Kenyatta
Johnson.
We
have
other
City
Council
members
that
were
supposed
to
be
here
today,
but
there
they
haven't
gotten
here
yet,
but
we
do
have
the
full
support
from
them
and
we
appreciate
everyone's
collaboration.
Thank
you.
So
much
at
this
time,
I'm
going
to
introduce
our
representative
from
the
district
attorney's
office,
Robert
Liston,
be
mister.
Listen,
be!
Thank
you.
So
much
for
being
here.
C
Thank
you
very
much
your
honor.
It's
certainly
an
honor
and
a
pleasure
to
be
here
when
I
first
heard
from
judge
Dumas
that
the
city
of
Philadelphia
was
going
to
become
engaged
to
do
the
right
thing.
Campaign
I
was
thrilled,
we're
also
very
thrilled
to
have
the
head
of
our
juvenile
unit.
The
seventy
wertham
be
the
coordinator
to
do
the
right
thing.
Challenge.
C
I
first
came
in
contact
with
this
program
when
I
served
as
administrator
of
the
Office
of
Juvenile
Justice
and
delinquency
prevention
in
Washington,
DC
working
for
President,
Obama
and
I
found
that
it
is
an
inspiring
program.
Each
day
here
in
Philadelphia,
our
children
are
exposed
to
all
types
of
violence
and
traumatic
circumstances.
C
Court
was
sent
down
there
by
the
justices
to
hear
about
violence
and
what
we're
doing
about
it
so
again,
I'm
thrilled
to
be
here,
the
district
attorney's
office
is
fully
supportive
of
new
efforts
to
end
violence
in
our
city
and
to
help
those
children
who've
been
exposed
to
violence
to
thrive
and
move
forward
with
their
lives.
I
want
to
thank
Judge
Dumas
for
her
our
energy
for
her
enthusiasm
for
a
dedication
to
really
seeing
that
this
is
the
kind
of
program
that
can
help
our
children
and
I'm
very
pleased
to
be
here.
Thank
you.
B
Thank
You
mr.
Lisonbee,
is
there
someone
here
from
President
Clark's
office
representing
the
office?
Okay,
so
we're
going
to
move
on
and
I
am
going
to
properly
introduce
our
councilman
Kenyatta
Johnson,
because
I
really
messed
it
up.
The
last
time
so
councilman
Johnson
is
represents
the
second
council
Council
Matic
district
is
the
chair
of
Special
Committee
on
gun,
violence
prevention
and
he
is
absolutely
without
a
doubt,
passionate
about
reducing
the
violence
and
improving
young
people's
quality
of
life.
So
with
that
councilman.
D
There
will
be
participating
principal
Johnson
from
Tilden
middle
school,
giving
a
round
of
applause
as
well,
he's
also
joined
here
by
Regina
young,
who
runs
the
mayor's
Community
Schools
program
at
to
the
middle
school,
and
so
for
me,
it's
just
about
being
supportive
of
this
program.
But
I
asked
one
of
my
staff
members
who's
gonna,
be
the
point
person
and
running
this
project
just
to
say
a
few
words
about
why
she's
passionate
about
this
particular
issue
but
beyond,
but
before
I
bring
her
up
I.
D
Just
want
to
make
sure,
as
you
get
started
in
this
process,
we
want
to
make
a
financial
commitment
from
our
tibbie's
fund
grant
and
amount
of
$2,500
this
to
get
you
started
I
believe
you
have
a
banker
that
you
have
to
do,
and
so
with
that
being
said,
we
know
what
the
problem
is.
I
want
to
focus
on
Solutions
and
getting
things
done
so
I'm,
a
Miss,
Tiffany
white.
E
I
feel
honored
and
privileged
to
be
here
to
be
a
part
of
this
I
know
the
councilman
mentioned
that
he
wanted
me
to
come
up
and
speak.
One
is
because
this
is
near
and
dear
to
me.
This
project
I
actually
was
a
victim
of
gun
violence
myself
when
I
was
16
years,
old
I
was
shot
in
my
back
with
the
45
I
didn't
write
a
story
of
course
back
then,
but
I
did
have
a
lot
of
questions
as
to
why.
Why
did
this
happen?
To
me?
E
I
just
couldn't
understand
it,
and
you
know
I
thought
people
in
the
community
we
loved
and
care
about
each
other,
so
I'm,
very
patient
about
being
a
part
of
this
I'm,
very
passionate,
to
hear
the
stories
of
our
youth
who
are
dealing
with
it
again,
like
I
dealt
with
it.
I'm
still
traumatized
from
it,
I
mean
at
the
age
of
42.
I
still
go
through
a
traumatic
experience
about,
even
if
I
hear
a
pop
or
anything
like
that.
E
So
it's
always
been
there
dear
to
me,
and
this
is
like
my
heart-
is
totally
in
this,
so
I'm
grateful
and
honor
for
the
councilman
to
pick
me
at
his
office
to
be
a
part
of
this
and
to
work
with
Josh
Dumas
and
the
team
to
make
a
difference,
and
it
allow
our
kids
to
express
themselves
through
this.
Thank
you.
B
I
would
like
to
thank
councilman
Johnson
for
putting
his
money
where
his
mouth
is
because,
as
you
all
know,
everything
needs
all
all
these
efforts
need
supports
that
can
keep
it
moving
forward
and
Tiffany.
Thank
you
for
being
so
honest
and
transparent
with
us,
because
it
is
that
type
of
trauma
we
are
trying
to
prevent,
as
it
relates
to
our
kids
and
for
those
who
have
already
experienced
it.
B
This
initiative
is
to
give
them
the
forum
and
the
platform
to
get
that
stuff
out,
because
when
the
trauma
sinks
deep
down
at
the
core,
the
manifestation
most
times
is
tragic.
So
at
this
time
we're
going
to
bring
forth
our
next
partner
in
Police
Commissioner
Richard
Ross,
who,
as
we
all
know,
violence,
is
at
the
top
of
his
agenda.
So
Commissioner.
F
All
right
good
afternoon,
everyone
and
I
too,
want
to
thank
Judge.
Do
myself
or
all
of
you
who
know
her.
You
know
that
once
she
sinks
her
teeth
into
something
you
better
watch
out
because
she's
very
tenacious
and
whether
it
be
her
work
in
human
trafficking
or
just
in
social
services
in
general,
she's,
really
really
a
hard-working
lady.
F
You
know
what
are
you
going
to
do?
What
are
you
going
to
do?
Well,
we
in
this
room
in
particular,
and
most
people
across
the
city,
know
that
one
which
is
never
gonna
work
right
and
that
you
have
to
be
multifaceted
in
your
efforts
to
stave
off
gun
violence,
and
so
when
you
include
young
people,
young
people
who
are
impacted
by
this,
this
level
of
violence.
It
is
just
one
more
step
and
one
more
piece
of
that
equation.
So
we're
happy
to
be
a
part
of
it
and
we're
thankful
that
the
young
folks
are
included.
F
B
G
Good
afternoon,
everyone
I
want
to
thank
you,
for
you
know
dealing
with
this
for
a
number
of
reasons.
As
you
know,
we
have
a
and
have
had
a
challenge
dealing
with
gun,
violence
and
other
types
of
violence
in
our
city.
For
quite
some
time
and
there's
been
different
approaches.
You
know
I've
had
the
opportunity
to
talk
to
the
police
commissioner
on
numerous
occasions,
and
we
tend
to
get
engaged
on
the
back
side
having
to
deal
with
individuals
once
they've
gotten
to
the
criminal
justice
system.
G
But
if
we
can
take
the
approach
where
we
spend
money
on
the
front
side
in
this
particular
approach,
when
you
have
built
the
level
of
camaraderie
among
all
the
individuals
who
are
interested
in
this,
is
it's
really
super
INRIA
ly
special?
So
when
you
came
off
as
one
I
was
going
to
say
yes
anyway,
because
you
know
we
all
know
the
judge.
Just
do
my
says.
The
commissioner
said
when
she
asked
you
said
yes
ma'am,
you
know,
but
because
of
the
approach
you're
taking.
G
This
is
very
special,
so
we're
just
glad
I
saw
my
colleague,
councilman
Johnson
who's
been
in
the
forefront
and
I
just
want
to
say
we're
very,
very
happy
to
be
a
part
of
this
very
significant
initial.
You
told
me
about
the
people
that
are
working
with
you.
I
just
want
to
congratulate
all
of
you
and
thank
you
all
so
much
for
your
great
work,
so
we're
there
whatever
you
need.
G
B
At
this
time
we
are
going
to
bring
forth
another
partner,
without
which
we
would
not
be
able
to
even
move
forward
with
all
of
this
energy
and
this
effort,
because
without
the
school
district,
we
would
have
no
children
to
write
the
essays,
and
so
with
that
I'm
going
to
bring
for
dr.
Savoy
Brooks
to
give
remarks
from
the
School
District
of
Philadelphia.
H
Good
afternoon
I
Malika
subway
Brooks,
the
chief
academic
support
officer
for
the
School
District
of
Philadelphia
and
on
behalf
of
the
School
District
of
Philadelphia
and
the
Board
of
Education.
We
thank
you
and
we
think
just
dumas
for
engaging
us
in
this
initiative
that
will
not
only
foster
a
sense
of
social
justice
and
social
responsibility,
but
it
will
also
engage
our
students
in
critical
thinking,
as
they
apply
literary
skills
and
strategies
learned
throughout
our
curriculum.
H
We
are
encouraging
all
principals
and
teachers
of
students
in
grades
6
to
6
through
8,
to
support
the
students
by
submitting
essays,
poems
or
even
a
song
that
expressed
their
personal
commitment
to
breaking
the
cycle
of
violence
in
the
home
and
in
our
community.
We
look
forward
to
supporting
the
city
and
its
efforts
to
decrease
violence,
increase
peace,
increased
collaboration
and
incorporate
problem-solving
strategies
as
we
educate
our
students
in
the
School
District
of
Philadelphia.
Thank
you.
H
A
Waring
is
thankful
for
for
the
opportunity
to
participate
in
the
do
the
right
thing
challenge,
giving
our
students
an
opportunity
to
examine
the
impact
of
youth
violence
on
their
lives
is
critical
in
healing
our
communities
and
our
schools.
Given
students,
a
voice
that
make
a
personal
commitment
to
invest
in
problem-solving,
emotional
management
of
their
emotions
in
reducing
violence
is
the
social
activism
we
need
so
badly
to
improve
our
communities.
A
The
goal
is
to
help
students
make
moral
and
ethical
decisions
as
they
improve
their
lives
and
subsequently
their
communities
at
Waring.
We
are
helping
students
each
and
every
day,
as
well
as
families,
staff
and
the
community
at
large,
to
be
more
awesome
to
be
more
awesome.
Each
and
every
day
is
the
goal
and
wearing
this
challenge
is
just
one
of
our
efforts.
So
I
would
like
to
leave
you
with
the
quote
throughout
history.
A
It
has
been
an
in
action
of
those
who
could
have
acted
the
indifference
of
those
who
should
have
known
better
the
Silence
of
the
voice
of
justice
when
it
mattered
most
that
has
made
it
possible
for
evil
to
triumph
by
haile
selassie.
So
I
sincerely
thank
all
of
you
in
Judge
Dumas
for
the
opportunity
to
participate
in
this
program.
Thank
you.
A
B
B
I
You
for
being
here
glad
that
to
be
a
part
of
this
program,
no
certainly
living
and
working
in
a
community
with
gun
violence
is
something
our
students
have
to
face.
It's
an
opportunity
for
them
to
be
able
to
write
about
their
experiences
and
write
about
changing
their
community.
Well,
as
a
community
school
in
South,
West
Philadelphia,
we
absolutely
believe
in
and
partnering
with
our
local
police
force
partnering
with
the
our
community
to
really
engage
our
students
in
a
way
that
will
change
outcomes
for
them.
I
Change
it
from
social-emotional
perspective,
but
in
this
particular
lens
is
a
great
opportunity,
as
doctors
of
what
Brooks
mentioned,
to
really
change
outcomes
from
academic
perspective
to
have
our
students
write
about
their
experiences,
we're
really
happy
about
this
opportunity
and
so
thankful
to
be
a
part
of
it.
Thank
you
to
judge
Dumas
and
all
the
other
partners
that
are
to
make
this
opportunity
come
to
fruition
thanks
so
much.
B
Okay,
so
we're
almost
there
I
definitely
would
be
remiss.
However,
if
I
did
not
think
our
do
the
right
fill
it
up.
Do
the
right
thing:
filly
team,
if
you
could
just
step
out
if
you're
in
the
front
or
if
you're
in
the
back
please
stand,
these
are
the
people
that
make
it
happen.
Thank
you
yes
and
I
do
not
have
my
glasses
on
so
I,
don't
know
what
bigwigs
we
have
out
in
the
audience,
except
for
my
colleagues
just
Sheila
with
skipper
and
judge
Karen
Simmons.
Thank
you
for
being
here.
B
I,
don't
know
if
anybody
else
is
here,
but
I
see
them
all
the
time.
So
thank
you
for
being
here.
Everyone
else
who
has
a
title
that
I
cannot
see
ray
Jones,
who
is
in
the
room?
Who
is
our
community
engagement
specialist?
Who
is
going
to
help
with
funding
in
this
effort
and
at
this
time
I'm
going
to
bring
up
Denise
Woodruff?
Who
is
going
to
talk
about
the
campaign
timeline?
Thank
you.
J
Hello,
I'm,
Denise,
Michelle,
Woodruff
I
am
cord
co-coordinator
for
Philadelphia's.
Do
the
right
thing
challenge,
which
is
an
initiative
of
the
national
campaign
to
stop
violence?
With
our
respect
to
our
timeline
this
year
we
sent
out
instruction
packets
to
participating
schools
in
January,
and
we
expect
to
receive
those
back
at
February
25th.
After
that,
our
gracious
volunteers
will
be
reading
all
of
the
writings
that
we
received
from
the
students
and
narrowing
it
down
to
ten
mail
in
ten
female
finalists.
J
At
that
time,
our
celebrity
judges
will
be
reading
those
writings
in
narrowing
it
down
for
interviews
which
will
take
place.
We
will
bring
in
the
proposed
national
ambassadors
to
be
interviewed
by
a
small
select
group
of
people
and
there
we
will
select
one
male
and
one
female
national
ambassador
to
go
to
the
national
recognition
week
in
Washington
DC.
Prior
to
that
in
May
we
will
have
our
local
recognition
dinner
or
banquet
or
celebration
in
July
is
when
the
national
recognition
week
celebration
takes
place.
J
Our
national
ambassadors
will
have
the
opportunity
to
have
their
writings
published
in
the
Library
of
Congress.
They
will
meet
with
Congress
members.
They
will
be
given
a
tour
of
the
Supreme
Court,
hopefully
meet
someone
on
sitting
on
the
Supreme
Court
that
happens
many
years.
They
will
visit
the
Kuwait
embassy
I'm,
not
sure
if
anyone
knows
here
that
one
of
the
national
sponsors
to
the
program
is
the
Kuwait
America
foundation.
J
So
we
have
a
strong
tie
with
that
group
and
really
the
best
part
of
all
is
our
national
ambassadors
come
back
to
Philadelphia
to
their
local
communities
and
they
are
empowered
and
inspired
after
collaborating
with
their
counterparts
across
the
nation
of
more
than
40
states
in
the
United
States,
and
they
make
a
change
in
our
local
community,
and
so
hopefully,
next
year
we
can
all
come
back
and
we
look
at
this
and
we
see
what
a
difference
our
future
leaders
made.
Thank
you.
B
So
we
were
able
to
still
Jenice
from
Pittsburgh.
Her
last
name
is
Woodruff,
her
father
judge
for
truth,
Dewayne
Woodard
from
Pittsburgh
leads
that
effort
this
same
effort
in
Pittsburgh,
and
so
because
she
now
lives
in
Philly.
She
is
a
part
of
the
Philly
team,
so
Thank
You
Denise
it
is.
It
is
very,
very
good
to
have
you.
B
Our
other
coordinator
is
Evony
wertham,
our
chief
of
the
juvenile
unit
at
the
district
attorney's
office,
and
we
are
going
to
bring
this
effort
here
today
to
a
close
and
I
just
want
to
thank
everyone
for
being
here,
especially
again
want
to
thank
the
team,
because
without
you
you
know
this
wouldn't
happen.
This
is
not
a
one-man
show,
and
anybody
that
knows
me
knows
that.
That's
the
way
that
I
operate,
so
we
are
all
in
it
together.
We
are
all
working
to
make
this
effort
very
successful.