Carleen Wray, executive director of the National Association of Students Against Violence Everywhere (SAVE), has announced that Nigel Cox, a senior at Farmville Central High School, has been selected as one of five high school students from across the country to serve on the 2011-2012 National SAVE Youth Advisory Board (YAB). Members of the board met in Raleigh, NC to participate in a National Youth Leadership Institute where they were trained as presenters and spokespersons for the national organization. At the Institute, Cox was elected by his peers to serve as Chair of the Board.
“I am confident that we can see positive change across the country regarding youth violence.” said Cox. “By empowering, engaging, educating and encouraging youth to be involved in youth violence prevention and safety efforts they will realize that they are a valuable part of the solution.”
Cox has been an active member of SAVE for seven years and has served on the National SAVE Youth Advisory Board for the past 3 years. He has held leadership positions in his school’s chapter including his newly elected position as vice chair for the 2010-2011 school year, vice president for the 2006-2007 and 2009-2010 school years, and sergeant of arms for the 2007-2008 school year. In addition to being a member of SAVE, Cox is involved with the youth in his church and works with his grandparent's franchise in an effort to continue making constructive decisions. Cox mime dances with youth both his age and younger to teach them about responsibility.
Members of the YAB will be developing their leadership skills through participation in training sessions, discussions of best practices for school violence prevention and the practice of educational activities for sharing with other SAVE students. They will create goals for the year as well as a proactive action plan to combat violence through the implementation of the three essential elements of SAVE: crime prevention, conflict management and service projects.
SAVE is a student-run, student-initiated public nonprofit violence prevention organization with close to 2,000 chapters in 48 states and more than 200,000 members in elementary, middle, high schools, colleges and communities nationwide.
About the National Association of Students Against Violence Everywhere:
SAVE started at West Charlotte High School in Charlotte, N.C. in 1989 following the tragic death of a student who was trying to break up a fight at an off-campus party. Students met first to console each other, then as an organization to promote violence prevention and to work together to prevent future incidents from occurring. SAVE provides education about the effects and consequences of violence and helps provide safe activities for students, parents and communities. For more information on SAVE or starting a SAVE chapter, visit www.nationalsave.org, or contact SAVE at (866) 343-SAVE to receive free start-up materials and guidance.
