On September 29, ASEZ STAR—the university student volunteer group of the World Mission Society Church of God—held a School Violence Prevention Forum in White Plains, New York. The event gathered about 100 participants, including ASEZ STAR members from White Plains, the Bronx, and New Windsor chapters, as well as local leaders such as New York State Assemblyman Nader Sayegh and Family Court Judge Lisa Rodriguez.
The forum was held as part of ASEZ STAR’s “Shoulder to Shoulder” campaign1. At this event, the participants came together to discuss ways to eradicate school violence.
1. This campaign by ASEZ STAR was held from August 12 to September 30 in celebration of International Youth Day (August 12). “Shoulder to Shoulder” conveys the message of leaning on one another in difficult times and standing by each other in moments of loneliness, with the goal of encouraging students to unite in building violence-free schools.
An ASEZ STAR member who took the podium introduced the “Shoulder to Shoulder” campaign, which was designed by ASEZ STAR to raise awareness of the seriousness of school violence and to respond to it. Next, attorney Shalini Quattlebaum shared her personal story of overcoming school violence, explained the importance of considering the victim’s perspective with compassion, and expressed her hope for the members’ active participation in the campaign.
A panel discussion was also held with legal experts, including Mitchell Villaverde, Deputy Chief of Trials at the Bronx District Attorney’s Office, and Prosecutor Allen Alvarez. They stressed that school violence impacts not only students but also families and communities. They praised ASEZ STAR for helping to create a caring and inclusive school atmosphere and expressed hope that more students would join in addressing such challenges.
Villaverde remarked, “I was greatly impressed by the maturity of the students who voluntarily organized this event. Tackling school issues is vital, and it takes students who are willing to take the lead. These young people are doing an outstanding job.” Sharing her experience, 16-year-old member Kailyn Maceo said, “I learned that we must show consideration for others so that no one feels alone.”
