Dear Neighbor, The community is invited to meet the Austin Police Department 144th Cadet Class today (Tuesday) from 4:00 until 6:30 p.m. at Edward Rendon Sr. Park (2101 Jesse E. Segovia Street). Cadets started on June 7, 2021, and are expected to graduate on January 28, 2022. The mass shooting on Sixth Street this past weekend was a stark… Read more »
Longhorn Leaders
The Greater Austin Crime Commission and University of Texas School of Social Work developed the Longhorn Leaders youth outreach program in cooperation with the university’s Athletic Department and the Austin Independent School District. The program is designed to communicate the importance of academic and personal success with middle school students. During the semester, each university student makes several personal presentations at each school, emphasizing academic excellence and life “success” skills.
IMPORTANCE OF ACADEMIC SUCCESS
The program is designed to communicate the importance of academic and personal success with middle school students. During the semester, each university athlete makes several personal presentations at each school, emphasizing academic excellence and life “success” skills.
community outreach
The Longhorn Leaders program has generated an enthusiastic response from schools and has promoted positive community interaction between university athletes, students, parents, teachers, and law enforcement. The Greater Austin Crime Commission underwrites the costs of developing materials for the program, including trading cards for each athlete and a half-hour video documentary.
The program, created by Crime Commission board members Dr. Michael L. Lauderdale and Fred Ligarde, reaches seventh graders at a crucial developmental point, as decisions affect the transition into early adolescence. School failure, involvement with drugs, gangs, or other harmful activities, and delinquency begun in middle school often lead toschool dropout and discourage successful developmental transitions. Students at this age are susceptible to influences beyond the family, especially from peers and the popular media. The Longhorn Leaders program provides an alternative, positive message.
In the News
Neighborhood Network
June 7, 2021
Dear Neighbor, The Austin Police Department’s 144th Cadet Class begins today. Nearly a hundred cadets will start the academy, which graduates early next year. The community is invited to meet the new cadet class on Tuesday, June 15, from 4:00 until 6:30 p.m. at Edward Rendon Sr. Park (2101 Jesse E. Segovia Street). Interim Police Chief Joseph Chacon reported to the… Read more »
Neighborhood Network
May 24, 2021
Dear Neighbor, The Austin Police Department faces a staffing crisis. Austin needs to fill vacancies and then adopt a new staffing model. What’s happening? The police department has 132 vacancies with at least seven more separations planned by the end of next month, on top of the 150 positions and cadet classes cut by the Austin City Council… Read more »