Capital Region Anti-Gang Project Reaches More than 1,800 Fifth-Graders

ALBANY, NEW YORK – United States Attorney Richard S. Hartunian wrapped up the 2017 LEADership Project at noon today at a conference at the Troy Middle School.

Joining him were 4 fifth-grade students who completed the project this year, and many leaders and representatives of the participating federal, state and local law enforcement agencies. The LEADership Project, an anti-gang training for fifth-grade students, has been reaching over 1.800 students in the fifth-grade classrooms in the Albany, Schenectady, Troy and Lansingburgh School Districts each year for the past two years.

U.S. Attorney Richard S. Hartunian stated: “Over my tenure as United States Attorney, the LEADership Project has helped to prevent young people from becoming involved with gangs and other criminal activities. Through this initiative, we worked with educators, administrators and dedicated volunteers to provide real-world strategies that will help these youngsters break the cycle of violence and criminality that they too often experience. It is our hope that this positive message will make a difference, and that these children will develop the attitudes and values that will turn them into tomorrow’s community leaders.”

The charts below summarizes all the law enforcement agencies that assisted with this project.

Federal Agencies

• U.S. Attorney’s Office
• U.S. Marshals Service
• Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms & Explosives (ATF)
• U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA)
• Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI)
• IRS-Criminal Investigation
• Transportation Security Administration
• Homeland Security Investigations
• U.S. Probation and Pretrial Services
• U.S. Department of Health & Human Services, OIG
• U.S. Customs & Border Patrol
• U.S. Postal Inspection Service
• U.S. Postal Service Office of the Inspector General

State and Local Agencies

• New York State Police
• New York State Attorney General’s Office
• Albany Police
• Schenectady Police
• Troy Police
• Schenectady Auxiliary Police Department
• Schenectady County District Attorney’s Office
• Rensselaer County District Attorney’s Office
• Schenectady County Probation Department
• Rensselaer County Probation Department
• Albany County Sheriff’s Office
• Schenectady County Sheriff’s Office
• Rensselaer County Sheriff’s Office

Through role-playing skits, centered on two fifth-grade characters who are lured by an older gang member to make some bad decisions, classroom discussions revolve around making good life decisions, focusing on the future, acknowledging positive personal traits, and becoming the best that students can be. The sessions introduce the students to the concepts of responsibility and accountability through learning about Victim Impact Panels and Community Accountability Boards.

In past student questionnaires, 84% of fifth graders stated it was very important to them to have help to stay away from gangs. These sessions help students learn how to do that. While 98% said they were not in a gang, 73% indicated they have friends who are in gangs. When asked who can help them stay away from gangs, students notably listed their parents, teachers, police officers and their LEADership instructors.

The LEADership Project is a small project with big returns. Even though it is only four sessions in each fifth-grade classroom, it reaches over 1,800 fifth-grade students in Albany, Schenectady, Troy and Lansingburgh. The project uses few resources; it is driven by over 80 volunteer law enforcement instructors. The LEADership Project is an investment in our future.