Drs. Howard Stevenson and Duane Thomas, two professors at the University of Pennsylvania Graduate School of Education have teamed up with the Urban Youth Association to create Preventing Long-term Anger and Aggression in Youth (P.L.A.A.Y.)Peacemakers, a two-year project funded by the National Institute of Child Health and Human Development that helps adolescents manage personal conflicts through interactive basketball games and parent involvement.
Parents and other caretakers are taught to become supportive life coaches for youth in seventh and eighth grades -- before, during and after conflicts (on and off the court) that may have serious developmental and life consequences.
Peacemakers incorporates “Cultural Pride Reinforcement,” small group discussions on topics relevant to adolescents’ lives, such as street-life survival and relationship issues. C.P.R. also teaches youth to solve gender, racial and academic conflicts without turning to violence.
Peacemakers integrates a creative combination of intervention and research strategies to bring positive changes in the lives of young people, including maintaining better family relationships, attaining conflict resolution skills and improving school attendance and academic achievement.
Orientation and registration for PLAAY Peacemakers is taking place every Saturday at 12:30pm at the historic Marian Anderson Recreation Center, located at 17th and Catherine Streets in South Philadelphia. Incentives for participation will be provided to youth and their parents. Peacemakers is open to boys and girls 12 to 14.
For more information, click here or email urbanyouthassociation@gmail.com.
Interested participants can also contact Dr. Duane Thomas at 215-573-2978.
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