South Florida Students Meet with Wasserman Schultz, Discuss Impact of Youth Violence and Violence Prevention

South Florida Students Meet with Wasserman Schultz,
Discuss Impact of Youth Violence and Violence Prevention

August 19, 2005

(Washington, DC) -- Rep. Wasserman Schultz recently met with two local South Florida students whose essays on the impact youth violence had in their lives has resulted in national recognition.

Nicholas DeLisa of North Miami Beach, now a student at Dr. Michael M. Krop Senior High School, and Alexandra Lopez of Southwood Middle School in Miami wrote essays on the impact youth violence has had on their lives. The student's essays were later selected to be printed as part of the national "Do The Write Thing" program. A book containing the writing of all this year's national finalists has now been placed in the Library of Congress.

"The murder in my school showed me how anything can change in a minute," said Alexandra Lopez, who wrote her essay about the impact that a murder of a student had on her and her friends at Southwood Middle School. "Two best friends changed to just one murderer in a matter of minutes. A family of three changed to just two grieving parents in a matter of minutes. My entire school changed from a generally joyous crowd to a scared mob in a matter of minutes."

"The student's essays are an urgent reminder of the challenges facing children and young adults in today's society," said Rep. Wasserman Schultz. "Alexandra and Nicholas have shown great leadership by facing the problem of youth violence head-on, recounting the impact that it had on their lives, and then discussing ways that we can help prevent such national tragedies."

The students flew to Washington, DC to meet fellow essay contest winners and national leaders, like Rep. Wasserman Schultz.

"Creating places for youth to go and activities for them to participate in are a very important part of the solution," said Krop High School student Nicholas DeLisa whose essay described how teens attacked his Grandmother. "When I reach voting age, I will carefully choose candidates who support programs to create jobs and improve economic conditions for people at the local and national level. We must work together to turn people away from violence in all its forms."

Do the Write Thing Challenge is an anti-violence essay contest which asks middle school students throughout the country to contemplate three questions: How has youth violence affected my life? What are the causes of youth violence? What can I do about youth violence? It is sponsored nationally by the Kuwait-America Foundation and the National Campaign To Stop Violence. Locally it is sponsored by Holland & Knight, LLP.

As a mother of three young children, Rep. Wasserman Schultz is dedicated to working with children and young adults to ensure that their voices are heard in Washington and to fight to address the issues that they identify as challenges for their generation.

http://www.house.gov/apps/list/press/fl20_schultz/dothewritething.html