Settles presented award of achievement from
Project Safe Neighborhoods

Doris Settles, Clearinghouse Coordinator for the Kentucky Center for School Safety (KCSS), based at the UK College of Education, was presented the award for Exceptional Community Involvement from the first annual Project Safe Neighborhoods Achievement Awards in Philadelphia last January. Settles was recognized for her work with the Eastern Kentucky District US Attorney's Office to promote school safety during National Safe Schools Week last November. 

Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN) is an initiative put forward by President George W. Bush and Attorney General John Ashcroft as a strategic approach to gun law enforcement in an effort to make communities safer. Settles worked extensively with Gregory VanTatenhove, U.S. Attorney for the Eastern District of Kentucky, and Mark Wohlander, Assistant US Attorney and PSN Coordinator, to gain the active participation of schools throughout the commonwealth in safe school activities. The KCSS with the US Attorney's Office launched a series of educational outreach projects, broadcasts, written pledges against gun violence, focus groups, and public service announcements, among many other initiatives, during the week.

In recognition of her efforts, US Attorney VanTatenhove and Assistant Attorney Wohlander nominated Settle for the PSN award. "It was our pleasure to nominate Doris Settles for the community involvement award. In 2001, even before PSN was formally introduced, Settles was working with this [US Attorney's] office to establish Kentucky's first ever 'Pledge Against Violence.' She is one of those outstanding citizens who cares deeply about the safety of children," VanTatenhove commented.

Among the program's accomplishments was a district-wide pledge by Kentucky school students to be gun safe and drug free. According to the KCSS, 600,000 students signed pledge cards. In one western Kentucky county 700 students participated in a world-record setting anti-violence "hug". Pledge cards were also used to decorate the halls of another school in dedication to the anti-violence campaign.

"The response from the pledge card campaign is very significant and has had a positive impact on students. The KCSS is proud to play an integral role in PSN and encouraging activities for Safe Schools Week. We are very pleased at the number of school districts that responded. Doris Settles and her staff at the Clearinghouse did an excellent job," said Jon Akers, Director of the KCSS.