“Why should I praise, compliment kids or students for things they should be doing anyway?”

“Why should I praise, compliment kids or students for things they should be doing anyway?”

Because encouragement and praise helps parents, teachers, coaches, caregivers and other adults to be more positive, it reduces conflict, promotes cooperation and reduces the likelihood that young people will engage in risky behavior such as substance use or physical altercations.

Using Empathy to Reduce Aggression in Montbello's Elementary Schools

Using Empathy to Reduce Aggression in Montbello's Elementary Schools

Aggressive behavior in schools is a problem that can seriously disrupt teaching and learning for all students, not just those that are hostile or engage in fighting. Spanish research suggests that a socio-emotional learning (SEL) program can help to reduce aggression among youth by increasing their levels of empathy. 

One Day On Earth

On Saturday, April 26th Steps to Success and Signal of Expression—a youth group from Martin Luther King, Jr. Early College—filmed interviews at the Boys & Girls Club Race Against Violence and at Z Place. The interviews aimed to capture what people love about living in Far Northeast Denver and will be incorporated into a 4 minute documentary. Our movie will be available on May 26th. Check out photos from the day here.

First Spring Positive Recognition Awards Night

Ms. Rossina Schroeer-Santiago, from Congresswoman Diana DeGette's office, gives Glendy Gonzalez (Montbello High School) an award.

Ms. Rossina Schroeer-Santiago, from Congresswoman Diana DeGette's office, gives Glendy Gonzalez (Montbello High School) an award.

On April 3rd we celebrated amazing youth in Montbello! Schools all over the neighborhood nominated students for awards in the areas of Positive Behavior, Community Service and Celebration of Growth. Over 20 young people received awards surrounded by friends, family mentors and teachers. We can't wait for our fall awards banquet!

Check out photos from the 2014 Steps to Success Positive Recognition Spring Awards Banquet here

Youth Crime Project Targets Northeast Denver Neighborhood

Community leaders in northeast Denver’s Montbello neighborhood are kicking off a five year, federally-funded project to reduce youth violence.  CU Boulder’s Center for the Study and Prevention of Violence is leading the effort.  Colorado Public Radio’s Anna Panoka was at the innaugural meeting Thursday.  She spoke with one community activist who was a bit skeptical about the research-based model the project aims to bring into the neighborhood. - See more at: http://www.cpr.org/news/story/youth-crime-project-targets-northeast-denver-neighborhood#sthash.7l9mdRfq.dpuf

CU Boulder - led effort to reduce youth violence in Denver's Montbello neighborhood kicks off Feb. 16-17

A five-year project to improve the lives of youth in Denver’s Montbello neighborhood will kick off Feb. 16-17 with public meetings on the Evie Garrett Dennis Campus. - See more at: http://www.colorado.edu/news/releases/2012/02/02/cu-boulder-led-effort-reduce-youth-violence-denver%E2%80%99s-montbello-neighborhood#sthash.COR4tzYY.dpuf

CU-Boulder to Lead Five-year, $6.5 Million Effort to Reduce Youth Violence in Denver's Montbello Neighborhood

The effort will be led by CU-Boulder's Center for the Study and Prevention of Violence, which CDC also named a National Academic Center for Excellence in Youth Violence Prevention. In prior years only 10 other schools in the nation have received the designation, including Harvard University, the University of Chicago and the University of California, Berkeley.