GREAT Success: 1,700 Students Graduate from Anti-Gang Program

It's cap and gown season in Newark, but instead more than 1,700 students donned white and turquoise t-shirts and bright smiles Friday for their Gang Resistance Education and Training (GREAT) graduation.

Taught nationally to elementary and middle school-aged kids, the gang and violence prevention program was hosted in 17 public schools and one charter school in Newark and held its largest graduation in the city yet. This year, fourth through sixth grade students got a sobering lesson in bullying, drawing from their own experiences at school to write essays and participate in role-playing activities.

"We pull out from the students what they know. We try not to interject our own experiences," said Det. Debra Cole-Granger, who's headed the GREAT program for six years. The program got its start in Newark some 10 years ago, according to officials.

Each week, students received lessons in ever-present topics like drugs, crime and violence taught by Newark's finest, including Cole-Granger, Det. Brian Logan, Det. Jose Ocasio, and Det. Russell Thomas. Sessions were 13 and nine weeks long for middle and elementary students, respectively.

Students were coached to have a zero-tolerance for bullying, falling in line with New Jersey's anti-bullying law, the toughest in the country.

"You're making the right choice," Mayor Cory Booker told the students gathered at the Central High School gymnasium. "You're making Newark safer."

Five students were honored with awards for their "GREAT citizenry:" Shakina Boulding, of Madison Street School; Sadi Colon, of Abington Avenue School; Jaylene Rivera, of First Avenue School; Yashley Rosario, of S. 17th Street School; and Karyo Viero, of Miller Street School, lauded for stopping an incident of bullying in his cafeteria.

Fourth grader Boulding read aloud her personal essay about sticking up for a friend who was being taunted in school.

"I was able to prevent destruction from happening in my school," she read.

The newly graduated students were treated to a screening of Dr. Seuss' "The Lorax" and theater snacks at the , courtesy of NBA All-Star Shaquille O'Neal.

Carlos Medina, a fourth grader at Miller Street School, said the program helped him realize bullying hurts others emotionally.

"It makes other people feel bad about themselves," he said.