According to the San Jose Mercury News there have been 12 homicides in the past 7 weeks. The majority were in District 2 – Eastside and downtown. Community Crime Prevention Associates reports nearly 5,000 students have dropped out of San Jose high schools in the last 2 years. In Santa Clara County, the dropout rate is soaring – 215% increase since 2002 in San Jose - and violence is on the rise.
Studies show that when graduation rates rise, violent crime goes down. We cannot afford to continue losing our young people – San Jose lost $34 Million in ADA due to dropouts last year for a total of $122 Million over the past 5 years. Studies show that a student who drops out of school and ends up in a life of crime, costs society $2.1 million in his/her lifetime.
Five hundred (500+) concerned community members will gather on Tuesday, April 1, 7:00-8:30 pm at Our Lady of Guadalupe Church, 2020 E. San Antonio St., San Jose, 95116 to demand the candidates for District 2 County Supervisor commit to bold leadership to stop the violence and save lives through great schools. PACT grassroots community and faith leaders will challenge SCC District 2 Supervisor candidates to make it their top priority to stop the violence and save lives by promoting and demanding great schools for all kids.
Why does this matter?:
- All children deserve excellent public schools regardless of the neighborhoods where they live and their families’ socioeconomic and ethnic backgrounds.
- All residents need to live in safe communities.
- We have a problem: Chronically failing schools driving crime, AND we have solutions: national, research-based best practices are producing impressive results right here in East San Jose.
- Our children and our community need bold leadership from public officials at all levels to grow the success and stop the failure.
Event Organized by: People Acting in Community Together (PACT) is a multi-ethnic, interfaith organization representing 19 congregations and 50,000 families in Santa Clara County.
Comments