Members of the B.M.C. Durfee High School Peaceful Coalition sat down with Fall River police officers on June 11, 2008, to engage in a structured dialogue designed to increase communication and understanding between youth and law enforcement officials. Under the leadership of Durfee High School student advisor Paul Leite and Youth Services Coordinator Christian McCloskey, Peaceful Coalition members have been engaged in a series of events including a retreat at the YMCA Camp Yomechas in Middleboro and an upcoming Hip Hop and basketball tournament with members of the police force. Discussion began with an exercise in which the adults shared some of their own experiences with school and the police and went into discussions of common concerns. For more information about the project, contact Durfee student advisor Paul Leite at 508-235-2694 or Youth Services Coordinator  Christian McCloskey at 508-324-2419.
 

 (Top row, left) Youth Services Coordinator Christian McCloskey and Durfee student advisor Paul Leite set the ground rules for the ninety-minute discussion. (Top row, center) Fall River Police Officer John Lapointe points out some of the things that he has learned from young people that have helped him in the course of his work.(Top row, right) Peaceful Coalition members Ronnie Chhot and Pheaktra Sambun share a few laughs. (Middle row, left) Peaceful Coalition members Michael Nhem, Brandyn Moniz and Matt Nhem listen to the officers. (Middle row, center) Peaceful Coalition member Vannara Chim introduces himself at the start of the dialogue. (Middle row, right) Officers Lapointe, Maria Kennedy and Warren Francis express some of their concerns about what they see in their work. (Bottom row, left) Peaceful Coalition member Delano Ellis makes a humorous remark. (Bottom row, center and right) Bryan Carbajal share some of his concerns about the police and Officer Francis responds.