Do the Write Thing Challenge provided middle school students with an opportunity to examine the impact of violence on their lives and communicate in writing what they can personally do to stop violence.

The goal of the program was to reduce violence in homes, schools and neighborhoods by encouraging students to make a personal commitment to do something about this problem.

There are 36,620 students enrolled in 36 Palm Beach County School District public middle schools, of which 30 middle schools accepted the Do the Write Thing Challenge.

24,111 essays were submitted and answered three questions in written form:

• default_titleHow has youth violence affected my life?
• default_titleWhat are the causes of youth violence?
• default_titleWhat can I do to reduce youth violence?
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Student Intervention Services was privileged to send one young man and young woman as guests of the local committee to serve as Ambassadors from Palm Beach County in the national recognition ceremony in the summer of 2013. They joined other Do the Write Thing Ambassadors from across the country and met with national leaders to address the problems of youth violence.

The School District of Palm Beach County has participated for the past 10 years due to the support of The Law Firm of Larmoyeux & Bone. Bill Bone is the chairman of the local Palm Beach County steering committee.

For the 2012-2013 school year, both winners were selected from Okeeheelee Middle School. All of the entries were read by multiple panels of volunteer judges. The judges represented a cross section of Palm Beach County educators, parents, law enforcement officers and judicial leaders who are committed to solving the problem of violence in the community.