Acting to Affirm Life
About Us & A Call to Serve
The Art of Prevention “The Art”, a §501(c)3 charitable organization registered in the State of Florida, was founded September 11, 2012 on the anniversary of the 9/11 tragedy. The Art’s mission is to prevent injury, fatality and psychological trauma. We seek to “Affirm Life” by advancing prevention, raising awareness regarding civic responsibility, and by striving to enhance resilience and self-sufficiency in the U.S. population. Our research has enabled us to focus on some of the most pressing issues such as violence prevention and anti-bullying; as well as, road safety as it pertains to pedestrians and bicycle riders.
The Art will continue its educational mission to advance prevention and improve safety. We will continue to advocate for civic engagement as it relates to preparing for domestic threats. The Art will provide a service to Campus Risk Solutions®, its parent company, by assembling an independent Scientific Advisory Board charged with guiding campus communities engaged in building risk-resistant infrastructure (RRI).
The Arts Take on Violence
The Arts are a great vehicle to raise awareness regarding violence prevention. It is possible to make discussions about violence, shared with young people, more approachable if we use a creative medium. Elissa Gross and Victor Malagon, of Campus Risk Solutions® were recently privileged to attend two dramatic film showings that highlight the need for societal response; one covering gun violence, the other on sexual assault.
The short film Blink debuted on March 21, 2023 at the Tampa Theatre, Tampa, FL. This new release is produced by Axion Pictures and Safe & Sound Hillsborough. Artistic expression brings gun violence to the fore and begs for solutions from the community. The film insists that one more life lost, is too many, and emphasizes how quickly (in the blink of an eye) the life of perpetrators, victims, their families and friends are forever changed. A “talkback” immediately followed the premiere screening, led by Safe & Sound’s Executive Director, Fred Barton. The cast described how creating the film impacted them personally, and helped form their opinions on using guns, versus solving problems in more productive ways. Various panelists included members of local law enforcement, juvenile justice, commissioners, family members who experienced the loss of a loved one to gun violence, and a former felon. Counselors and mentors were present to offer one-on-one support for anyone who was interested. Blink is now on the national stage with a schedule of virtual screenings and talkbacks!! Watch the trailer HERE. For future showings check back with Safe & Sound Hillsborough.
The one-person performance, Prima Facie (aired October 2022; Enzian Theatre, Maitland, FL), explores the twist of fate as a young barrister, used to successfully cross-examining others, is faced with bringing her rapist, a co-worker, to justice. All the while, the protagonist is under the scrutiny of her mother, classmates, and the patriarchal power baked into the court system. The show explores drinking, safe dating practices, and date rape. It was followed by a panel-led discussion hosted by Rollins College’s Director of Title IX, Sarah Laake, and two theatre professors, both adept at helping students express their feelings regarding the tough topic of sexual assault and generally, growing up in today’s world.
Resources
Personal Student Safety Plan
Over the years, parents approached The Art of Prevention’s founder asking her “What is the best thing I can do to help my child who is being bullied?”. I knew parents should be keeping a chronological record of incidents. They could encourage their child to start or join an anti-bullying, or peer mentoring club on campus focused on positive inclusion. Children could learn the warning signs and what to report. Perhaps the child could (in theory) be taught to be more confident and assertive to a degree!! Hm, I always felt there was something missing from the “toolkit” until I came across this valuable form. Print out Oregon Health & Science University’s (OHSU’s) Targeted Student Safety Plan Template, and make an appointment to fill it out with the right person at school. It could make a huge difference to assign concrete steps that the school, parents and students can agree to carry out to stop harassment, intimidation and bullying (HIB). See what you think.
School Safety Walkthrough
In response to the Robb Elementary School Shooting in Uvalde, Texas – The Art will always remember the beautiful students that perished and the ones that made it out alive. These young people demonstrated advanced skills in the face of danger and the entire country is so very proud of them. Every emergency situation is unique. Following each response, we must do our best to learn from mistakes and the techniques that brought about successful outcomes. The Art wants every student to know that they deserve better outcomes and an airtight security framework. That framework is not handed to students on a silver platter, though I wish it were the case. The entire campus and its extended community are required to stop senseless violence.
The good news is that elementary school students can definitely help to control outcomes. Ask your teacher to take your class on regular School Safety Walkthroughs. During the walk, think of yourself as an investigator. Pick an area of concern to concentrate on for each walk. For example, take a hard look at doors and exits. Do the locks work? Is there a door prop alarm in case someone accidentally forgets to close a door to the outside? Is there a chained door? This is a common school safety mistake and represents a fire hazard!! Look above the door to see if the exit sign is lit, maybe it needs a new bulb. Look down at the floor, is something blocking the exit like a big garbage can? Return back to the classroom and write down your findings. Make sure the principal gets a copy. Please do your part, every effort makes us all safer and that’s a very happy result.
POWER to the STUDENTS!!
In a Rut; Don’t Cut™
Cutting hurts everyone; the person doing it, parents, siblings & friends… but it doesn’t have to!
This PeerPaL™ message is offered to provide guidance on a prevalent problem that threatens too many young people today; self-injury (SI). The Art of Prevention™ wants to remove the stigma that prevents individuals from seeking help and to inform those who have the power to help. What it is, what to ask, and where to find answers...
A PeerPaL™ Message
Cutting? Come Clean
Get Help Now
Is There a Hero in You?
The four traits that have been identified as common to “Everyday Heroes” tells us something about what an individual can do to make the world a safer and better place.
Heroes abide by a moral code.
Heroes prepare & practice so they’re ready when needed or called upon.
Heroes are highly compassionate.
Heroes perform ordinary acts of kindness.
At The Art of Prevention we believe heroes and leaders can make an enormous difference, and they have certain qualities in common that should be saluted. A PeerPaL™ hero can be anyone, but they must arrive prepared!
Crime Index
Sperling’s Best Places 2020 Crime Indices range from 1 (low crime) to 100 (high crime) based on FBI data. You can check your own local Crime Index on Sperling’s website. BTW, they offer a handy COVID-19 tracker and hyperlocal map of outbreaks.
The Art of Prevention™ encourages families to look up the crime index for their area. This resource breaks down statistics into violent and property crime, and compares a particular area to the national average.
Proactive Parents
Did you know every campus should have a customized Emergency Operations Plan (EOP) or Safety Plan which should be administered through a centralized Emergency Operations Center (EOC) or Operations Control Center (OCC)? These centers may be physical or virtual, and can have several nodes. Proactive parents should have firsthand understanding of EOP policy and procedures at their child’s school. PeerPaL™ parents realize they’re part of the equation when it comes to assuring school security and the use of effective safety drills for multiple threat scenarios.
Promote Safety at Your Child’s School
Ask your child about safety in his or her learning environment.
Find out about comfort levels on campus and incident reporting methods.
Learn about policies and procedures used to promote safety and security.
Explore who is receiving preparedness training and how they are rehearsing to prevent crises.
Actively participate in Safety Plan development and exercises as a member of the community
Addiction and/or Suicidal Thoughts
The Recovery Village & Country Air Blow in a Fresh Perspective
The Art’s founder, Elissa, was recently contacted by Enmanuel Batista Shedrack, Outreach Specialist from The Recovery Village. Enmanuel asked if The Art would let our readers know about their resources. That’s a resounding YES! Upon visiting The Recovery Village’s website I was greeted by a sincere video testimonial, as well as a comprehensive set of options for embarking on a positive journey to improve one’s health. Outreach involves helping people fight suicide thoughts, addiction, and mental illness. I noticed their organization has locations across the country, and a flagship Drug and Alcohol Rehab facility in Umatilla, Florida.
I know Umatilla!! I visit that town when I’m fixing for a good county breakfast at “Mason Jar”. Thanks to Enmanuel, I learned The Recovery Village has a whole suite of treatments and educational tools ranging from career assistance, to psychological and restorative growth opportunities. While their online tools don’t require leaving the house, other choices include joining in activities such as meditation and yoga. So, although The Recovery Village is far more than just a local resource, the upshot is, if you haven’t been to the old Florida town of Umatilla, I recommend the sweet tea, biscuits, and well-qualified folks waiting to hear from you at The Recovery Village.
Please take a look at their depression and suicide resources:
Suicide Hotline | Drugs and Suicide
Our Supporters
The Art of Prevention™ wishes to acknowledge those that have served as our advisors, advocates, volunteers and donors!! Your belief in our cause and support are helping us to change the safety and security landscape on campuses. Many have shared best practices for programming from their unique professional viewpoint.
We extend a hearty thank you specifically to those members of the team of advisors who have been with the project since inception: Rachel and Robert Layman, Tracy Joyner, Dr. Nancy Blackwelder, Marcia Naroditsky, Art Hushen, Scott Barnett, David Voss, and Nakita Toppin. Appreciated advisors from over the years have included: Jim Greenland, Dr. J. G. Rausch-Medina, David Bjelke, B.J. Bryant, Shelby Bender, Mary Davis and Julie Peeler. We’re thinking fondly of our first donor, Ms. Kay Weston.
Volunteer Spotlight
The Art of Prevention™ is highlighting National Training & Safety Solutions (NTSS) this month. Robert and Rachel Layman of NTSS have made our mission possible in so many ways! Rachel is the co-founder of The Art of Prevention™. Rachel has worked tirelessly on content development and program delivery, she built our first website, and was kind enough to give personal testimony to the Hillsborough County School Board on issues that impact students’ lives. Her spouse and business partner, Robert a.k.a. “Safety Bob” is one of the country’s foremost OSHA trainers and instructors, and has years of experience as a Safety Director in the corporate world. Robert has given generously of his time sharing professional expertise on workplace safety with The Art of Prevention™. Robert helped us focus on the most important risks, and showed us how best to provide safety material for maximum retention.
Contact us
gross.prevent@gmail.com