St. Mary’s Academy students join elite group of Crimestoppers

Three students from St. Mary’s Academy have joined an elite force of teenagers who are helping deter criminal activity in the city of New Orleans. Jernay Barnes, Brooke Sylvester and Kerstin Augillard are participants in the Crimestoppers Teen Am­bassadors Against Crime (TAAC) Leader­ship Program which strives to help students gain a better understanding of the criminal justice arena, including the role that students can and do play in community safety.

Sophomores and juniors were selected from 22 public, private and parochial schools from Jefferson, Orleans and St. Tam­many parishes. One or two students were selected from each school on the basis of interest in criminal justice and leadership abilities, said Darlene Cusanza, president and chief executive officer of Crimestoppers.

The program educates teenagers about the costs and consequences of crime, their responsibilities as citizens, and their role as mentors to their peers. Additionally, TAAC increases social responsibility in teens, educates them about the law, reduces their potential for victimization, and engages them in making their homes, schools, and communities safer.

“The message, about not to get involved in crimes and drugs, gets across better when you hear it from your peers,” Cusanza said.

Recently, all of the ambassadors were featured at the 27th Annual Crimestoppers Annual Awards Luncheon held at the Hilton Riverside New Orleans. The luncheon honors individuals who have helped both Crimestoppers and the New Orleans community in the mission of taking criminals off our streets. It also serves as a networking opportunity for citizens who are interested in preserving community safety. Ac­com­­panying the Ambassadors from SMA were Cheryl Ross Brown, assistant principal of St. Mary’s Academy, and Shira Hussain, Academic Counselor.

This article was originally published in the April 2, 2012 print edition of The Louisiana Weekly newspaper