Youth ECHO
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEix6Vic78_XhxLSoZmh5H2Zj1pKje_xZ24bUJuaLl4-DZCGJMaBhiXECh9nyoxhT6b-_Sy1eIOOftX9zDA8WEvUjhTN8VYd89jr4KGQm8Nm3LwHvDNAplNshAtMvNiWFaPjJ8PO8i6Cw9Q/s200/youth.echo.jpg)
Last week, Youth ECHO, our effort to enlist teen leaders in the Red Hook Houses in marketing anti-crime values to their peers, held a large public event in Coffey Park. Several hundred local residents stopped by to eat hot dogs and burgers, to catch a talent show and to watch a short documentary about the Youth ECHO participants. Youth ECHO's message is a simple one: "Dealing Drugs: It's Not Worth It." They have chosen a wide array of vehicles to transmit this message, including t-shirts, stencils, a myspace page and a downloadable ringtone. Independence Community Foundation has been a principal force behind-the-scenes with Youth ECHO, encouraging us to test a new approach to preventing youth crime and helping to link us with useful partners. Congrats to Elise and Ericka for rising to this challenge!