About thirty members of the B.M.C. Durfee High School Peaceful Coalition and three members of the Fall River Police Department, including Chief Dan Racine, met together on October 15, 2010, to share experiences and perspectives on life in Fall River. Coalition members described their own histories dealing with gangs, violence and drugs through a series of vignettes. Chief Racine and Officer John Lapointe responded with their perspective and advice on how to avoid having to deal with the police. The dialogue was organized by B.M.C. Durfee High School student advisors Paul Leite, Tom Khoury and  Michaela Hetzler. They were joined by Fall River Housing Authority Family and Youth Services director Joe DaSilva and Fall River Youth Services Coordinator Christian McCloskey. The Dialogue is part of a series of events that began with a June Peace Walk (click here for the video of the event and here for photos of the walk and here for photos). For more information about the Peaceful Coalition, contact student advisor Paul Leite at 508-235-2694.
 

(Top row, left) Tobacco Control coordinator Marilyn Edge talks with Commander of Planning and Training Sgt. Andrew Crook about the training series. (Top row, center and right) Dan Buckley of the batterer's intervention  program at Stanley Street Treatment and Resources (SSTAR) describes the services available to perpetrators of domestic violence in Fall River. (Middle row, left) Fall River Women's Center director Dale Brown and Pobate Court Safe Plan Advocate Deanne Gomes talks with one of the police officers during a break. (Middle row, center) BOLD Coalition coordinator Craig Gaspard goes over the presentation with Sgt. Kevin Medeiros who operates the projector. (Middle row, right) Deanne Gomes and District Court Safe Plan Advocate describe the services that the court provides victims of domestic violence. (Bottom row) Craig Gaspard and Marilyn Edge describe efforts to reduce the use of alcohol, tobacco and other drugs in the Greater Fall River Area.