The Youth 2 Youth: Partners for Peace campaign, is a Job Corps student-led initiative. “Y2Y Week” began Monday, September 14, and concluded Friday September 18, 2015. During Y2Y Week, Job Corps Student Ambassadors across the country will officially announce Y2Y to their surrounding communities. Toni Harp, the Mayor of the City of New Haven recognized the initiative by issuing a Proclamation. Leading up to that week, Student Ambassadors, and staff will organize, plan, and collaborate on campaign ideas. Our fellow students know all too well that violence is killing our future. Emergency rooms in the United states treat 692,000 young people each year due to injuries sustained Personal safety and security are priorities for Job Corps. A safe and secure on-center environment must be in place for students to succeed with their career training and education; and safe homes, and communities are necessary building blocks of successful careers. The Youth 2 Youth campaign underscores Job Corps participation as an active partner in the National Forum on Youth Violence Prevention, a White House initiative launched in 2010 and administered by the U.S. Department of Justice. Statistics are staggering: • 22% of young people witness a shooting each year • 692,000 young people are treated in Emergency Rooms each year due to violence • 27% of young people are bullied at school • 6 – 7 young people are killed by violence each day • 44% of sexual assault victims are under 18 years of age • 52% of young people report having been bullied online The goals of the New Haven Job Corps Youth 2 Youth initiative mirror those of the National Forum on Youth Violence Prevention to: • Elevate youth violence as an issue of national significance • Enhance capacity to more effectively prevent youth violence • Sustain progress Students will be sharing stories and talking about solutions to help other prevent violence and aggression, empower one another to prevent violence and aggression, and discussing violence and aggression in our community during week long events beginning Monday, September 14 and concluding Friday September 18. Students will be signing pledges, and making community contacts to obtain partners for peace.