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From Hate To Hope

T

wenty students at Roseville
High School have a new per-
spective on local law enforce-
ment thanks to the Tectonic Leadership
Program. The pilot program was
started by Brenda Rosenberg, author
of Harnessing the Power of Tension,
and organized by Assistant Principal
Monica Gabriel.
The word “tectonic” refers to the
tension of Earth’s tectonic plates. The
program aimed to diffuse the tension
between law enforcement and commu-
nities of color.
“My hope was that the program
would create a dialogue that really
needs to happen,” Gabriel said. “If we
only get our information from the
Brenda Rosenberg listens as Abbeygail Omaits of Dearborn talks about her experience
media, we are bound for continuous
in the program.
issues and a culture of fear and hate.
“If both the community and law
enforcement can be open and honest
about their fears and concerns, we will
get a lot more done and live in a safer
community,” she added.
The Roseville High School students
went on a tour of the police department
and met with police and FBI officers
who provided perspective on what
it’s like to be a police officer and the
threats they face each day.
Students had the opportunity to
participate in texting and driving and
drunk-driving simulators as well as a
“shoot-don’t shoot” simulator.
“After today, I got an actual feeling
of what the police really go through in
these crazy, scary situations,” said one
student.
“I had to decide in a moment what to
do. It was an amazing experience to see Roseville High student Gino Reinke, 15, serves desserts to Roseville Police Detective
exactly what the police go through in a Brad McKenzie and Roseville High senior Tommy Schneider, 17.
deadly situation,” said another.
Tension between the students and
police officers was very real at the start crimination. Students created a website schools. “The students now see the
of the 10-week program. “Don’t see me
to share what they learned with the rest police as human — not just uniforms.”
Miriam Logan, a student in the pro-
as just a uniform. I would give my life
of the school.
gram, said the program “changed her
for you,” said a police officer.
At the culminating dinner on March
life. I really wasn’t sure how to talk to
A student said, “Don’t see me as a
15, each student had to present a “jus-
people without getting defensive and
threat or a target, just a human.”
tice project,” an expression of what
During the program, students learned justice meant to them. One student cre- tensing up. Now I can understand how
to listen to someone and try to under-
how to conduct themselves at traffic
ated a rap song, others made paintings
stand their point of view.”
stops, how to help a friend in danger
or produced videos or wrote poems.
of becoming a victim of sex trafficking,
“Many of the students’ projects left
For information on bringing the Tectonic Leadership
how to deal with bullying and threats
me in tears,” said Rosenberg, who is
on social media, how to deal with abuse creating a documentary on the program Program to your school, contact Brenda Rosenberg at
pathways2peace@comcast.net.
at home, drug use or self-harm and dis- and hopes to spread it to other local

Detective Brad McKenzie supervises the
driving-while-drunk simulation.

Jerry Zolynsky

Jackie Headapohl | Managing Editor

Jerry Zolynsky

Leadership program bridges the divide between students and law enforcement.

Bushra Alawie, community outreach
specialist at the FBI’s Office of Public
Affairs, has students try on protective gear.

Roseville High School’s Tectonic leaders

*

Violetta Nicovic explains her justice project.

28 March 31 • 2016