Graduation: ATF Gang Resistance Education and Training Program Provides Philadelphia Students Lasting Life Skills

PHILADELPHIA - Special Agent in Charge Eric DeGree of the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives' Philadelphia Field Division announced the graduation of 27 Tacony Charter Academy fifth graders from Gang Resistance Education and Training (G.R.E.A.T.) this week.

"Congratulations! The life skills you learned in the G.R.E.A.T. program will serve you and your community for a lifetime," said DeGree. "For more than three decades our program provided students the opportunity to meet and engage with our law enforcement officers in a learning environment and learn valuable skills to strengthen our communities for generations."

The G.R.E.A.T. youth and community outreach program was launched in 1991 to proactively combat violent crime. It uses community-oriented policing tactics and community outreach to change perceptions about law enforcement, one student at a time. In Philadelphia, G.R.E.A.T. program instructors have focused on helping eliminate delinquency, youth violence, and gang membership.

A student noted they enjoyed "learning new things and learning how to be kind to each other." Another student said "My favorite part was the skits, because they were fun and effective, because they taught us rules and it connected to the instruction we got from Officer Dan."

"Getting the students to recognize their potential and the impacts they have already made in their community has been extremely rewarding," said G.R.E.A.T. instructor and ATF Special Agent Daniel Leskowicz.

"It's been awesome watching my students take the abstract "community" concepts we talk about in Social Studies and actually use them to solve real-world problems," said their teacher, Connor Kealey. "Instead of just reading about civic duty, they're living it-learning how to communicate, handle conflicts, and have each other's backs. The shift in my classroom's energy toward respect and maturity has been incredible to witness. I'm so proud to see them growing into such thoughtful, responsible leaders!"

The G.R.E.A.T. curriculum includes violence prevention, conflict resolution techniques, decision-making, goal setting, and problem-solving. The elementary school curriculum is a six-week interactive session for fourth and fifth graders with an emphasis on family involvement. Students are taught how to set goals, resist peer pressure, respect differences, resolve conflicts and understand how gangs can negatively impact their quality of life. They also learn the importance of becoming responsible members of their communities.

Information on the G.R.E.A.T. program, its mission and impact on communities is online at www.atf.gov/resource-center/fact-sheet/gang-resistance-education-and-training-great-program.