The City of Bryan is excited to have recently hosted the first graduation luncheon for The Village Program. The Village Program was started by the Bryan Police Department’s Neighborhood Enforcement Team (NET) in June 2008 with 20 high school students from the Bryan school district, eight of which have graduated this year.

The mission was to develop the youth into confident, well-rounded leaders who take ownership of their actions, have pride in self and accept responsibility for setting good examples for younger and older peers. This was accomplished with monthly meetings/seminars that were conducted by gracious volunteers from Texas A&M Multicultural Services, MSC Student Programs, a B.I.S.D. middle school teacher, an accountant from Dallas and three Bryan Police Officers from the Neighborhood Enforcement Team. The cycle of programs started as with a cultural field trip to Houston, which provided the students with historical and community consciousness.

These developmental objectives were achieved with racial and self identity practicals, leadership development styles, incorporating academic as well as peer-to-peer interactions for the purpose of developing an accountability system and an assessment of how students see themselves in relation to moral character. The program was deemed a success and will be continued in the 2009-10 school year. The students who continue with the program will move into a role of peer leadership as Keepers of The Village.

This program was funded by the City of Bryan’s Neighborhood and Youth Services Department, led by Ronnie Jackson. For more information or to sponsor a student, contact William Cross with the Bryan Police Department’s Neighborhood Enforcement Team at crossw@bryantx.gov.