Media Reports
Backed by $3.5 million grant, Mobile seeks to stem youth violence
By Lawrence Specker | lspecker@al.com
Principals of four Mobile County middle schools, accompanied by captains from partner
police precincts, prepare to find out what order their schools will go in as the SOAR
program is implemented. From left are Capt. Angela Prine, Booker T. Washington Middle
School Principal Johnnie Williams, Katherine H. Hankins Middle School Principal Joshua
Verkouille, Capt. Kevin Rogers (reaching for balloon), Palmer Pillans Middle School
Principal Tammy George, Capt. Lee Laffitte and Bernice J. Causey Middle School Principal
Jason Smith.Mike Kittrell/University of South AlabamaPublic school, police and university officials came together Wednesday in Mobile to launch a five-year youth violence initiative funded by a $3.5 million grant from the National Institutes of Health.
Principal partners in the effort are the University of South Alabama, the Mobile County Public School System and the Mobile Police Department. They hope to create “a national model for youth violence prevention” through the SOAR program, a name that stands for Strengthening Opportunities for Achievement and Resilience. Over the next few years, it will be sequentially implemented at four Mobile County middle schools.