LetUP Mission Statement To represent the diversity of cultural, racial, and special interest groups on a school campus by bringing together natural student leaders within those groups in order to keep peace on campus through mutual respect and the empowerment and development of positive leadership qualities.

Philosophy History of LetUP Starting LetUP at Your School Student Voices Natural Leaders Documentary Community Leadership Connection History of LetUP Today, teen anger and violence threaten adolescents and the communities they live in. Tragic incidents at Columbine, Santee and El Cajon High schools brought unresolved teen anger to public attention. In many large metropolitan public school systems in the United States, racial issues and gang activity are constant catalysts for violence. Learning how to understand and modify these root catalysts has been a major challenge for both students and teachers. San Pedro High School, of the Los Angeles Unified School District, has dealt with this problem by implementing the multicultural leadership and peace development program called LetUP, Leaders Empowering Teens United for Peace. In February 2000 the San Pedro area experienced a series of gang related shootings which significantly heightened the levels of racial tension on the local high school campus. This led seasoned counselor and educator Dr. Windy W. Warren to mediate between Latino and African-American gang-affiliated natural student leaders to prevent potential violence at San Pedro High School. These were not leaders in the traditional sense of academic achievement, but in the social arena of true peer influence. They were leaders because they had a following. At the time, they were negative leaders who were instigating and encouraging fear and retaliation, yet they were leaders who recognized a problem and were willing to try to work it out. What ensued through their willingness to meet was an eventual reconciliation of differences. Through open and safe dialogue, the hand-picked student leaders realized that their common desires to succeed were more important than their differences, that their stereotypes and accusations were often proven wrong, and that owning mistakes provided room for renewed acceptance and positive change. As weekly meetings restored a sense of calm between the two groups, it was also felt campus-wide due the strong peer influence of the selected students. Other students knew that two "gang groups" were meeting to restore peace. Interestingly enough, as the stereotype of being a gangster was felt within the group, members made it clear that they did not like the stereotype, that what they were doing was important and effective, and that other student groups on campus should be invited into the peace keeping process. Thus LetUP grew over the months from a handful of gang-affiliated males to a forty member multi-cultural and multi-ethnic group who collectively represent the diversity of the campus; males and females; African Americans, Asians, Caucasians, Croatians, Italians, Latinos, and Pacific Islanders; punk rockers, Goths, heavy metalers, hip-hoppers; jocks, geeks, gangsters, skate boarders, and surfers; honors' lists and deans' lists. The stereotypes are brought together to see through the exterior to a core of human needs and goals, to challenge each leader toward positive choices, and to influence their peers to do the same. As LetUP leaders have changed, the campus atmosphere has changed, and thus the group itself has evolved to meet the needs of the students. What began as small group mediation has developed to include peer-led classroom discussions, speaking before assemblies and student orientations, and monthly meetings with the traditional Student Body Government and community agency adults in what is collaboratively called Community Leadership Connection. This next level of leadership development, working with adults, has included attendance to school staff in-services, presentations to committee and board meetings, and regular dialogues with Los Angeles Police Department, Harbor Division officers. This focus of improving peer-to-adult relations began in September 2000 when LAPD officers, who also recognized a creative need to reduce community violence, began meeting every month with original members of LetUP. LAPD has been an integral part of LetUP's goals ever since - to dialogue, create understanding, and emphasize human similarities rather than differences. Students have been transformed from being reluctant to meet a police officer to shaking his/her hand after talking, and even greeting them on the street. Commanding Officer Patrick Gannon of Harbor LAPD writes, "I see a direct correlation between the success of Leaders Empowering Teens: United for Peace and Community Leadership Connection and the lack of a major conflict at San Pedro High School. The trusting relationships that have been developed in these programs have given these student leaders an opportunity to break down stereotypes, mediate disputes, which in turn reduces the number of conflicts that occur on and off campus." LAPD, Harbor Division has continued its monthly commitment with LetUP members through Community Leadership Connection and has pledged officer support if the program is expanded to other campuses.

Windy W. Warren, Ph.D.   |   warren@letup.org LetUP, CLC Founder/Coordinator Office: (310) 547-2491 x230   |   Cell: (310) 612-3414 San Pedro High School 1001 15th Street, San Pedro, CA 90731 Copyright ©2005-06 LetUP, CLC   All Rights Reserved.