BOSTON, MA:
On May 10, 500-plus students gathered at Northeastern University's Blackman Auditorium to address the topic, "Preventing Violence in Schools and Communities." This was the theme of the eight-annual Human Rights Squad Forum which took place less than one month after the tragedy at the Columbine High School on Colorado on April 20.

The forum assembled students from 17 Massachusetts and one Rhode Island school. The students divided into 14 workshops groups to discuss the topic and propose solutions for the prevention of violence in their classrooms and in their neighborhoods.

The Human Rights Leadership awards were presented to student activist Kaitlin St. George (Arcbishop Williams High School) in the student category, and Ron Adams, a teacher at Broad Meadows Middle School, in the adult category. The awards were presented by Lester Strong, news anchor at WHDH-TV; and Margie Reedy, news anchor at New England Cable News.

Project TEAMWORK's Darryl Williams presented the second-annual Darryl Williams awards to two schools who uphold the program's message. Williams was gunned down while playing in a high school football game in 1979 which left him paralyzed. He now serves as a motivational speaker for Project TEAMWORK. The energetic youth from Woonsocket (Rhode Island), accepted the award in the High School category, while Broad Meadows was honored in the Middle School category.

The keynote address was made by Tracy Litthcut, the Director of Youth and Recreational Services at Boston Community Centers. The featured student speaker was Jennifer Rockwood (Lynn English High School).

Oscar Severino (Lynn Vocational Technical Institute) was awarded the "Anytown" Leadership camp scholarship by the New England Sports Lodge of the B'nai B'rith.

Kevin Fitzgerald, Sport in Society's Urban Youth Sports Co-Director and Massachusetts State Representative, also entered into a dialogue with the audience specifically discussing the Littleton, CO, tragedy and requesting the youth to bring ideas to the legislature on how to reduce violence in schools.

Entertainment was provided by the Lynn Tech Choir. Poetry, music and dance was performed by Archbishop Williams High School students, featuring Kaitlin St. George. Students from Woonsocket High School's performed a traditional Japanese dance and a Latin-flavored "bomba y plena."