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Contact: Connie Watson 512-943-1663 (office) 512-844-3542 (cell) FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

JUVENILE SERVICES CAMPUS RECOGNIZED AS NO PLACE FOR HATE CAMPUS May 29, 2012 (Williamson County, TX) Williamson County Juvenile Services will be recognized as a No Place for Hate campus for the coming 2011-2012 school year, making it the first juvenile correctional facility to receive this designation. On April 26, 2012, they received notification from the Anti-Defamation League of Austin of the approval of the designation, and the Academy and Detention/TRIAD received their banners at the Georgetown Independent School Districts School Board Meeting on May 21, 2012. The No Place for Hate campaign was a team initiative whose goal was to foster an environment that aided in the prevention of bullying and harassment. The No Place for Hate Coalition Team consisted of a collaboration of students, teachers, and administrators that worked together over the past year to design and implement activities to raise awareness, educate, and promote diversity and acceptance of others. To receive the No Place for Hate designation, the campus was required to complete three or more anti-bias or diversity activities by April 15, 2012. The activities the student leadership and teachers implemented throughout the year included two half-days of awareness and education regarding factors associated with discrimination, bullying, harassment, and diversity, and an assembly entitled, Dont Discriminate, Appreciate which focused on the importance of accepting others and respecting our differences. Other activities included a poster contest to promote bullying/harassment prevention and creation of banners, posters, word walls and other art projects associated with promoting acceptance and diversity. I would like to give special thanks to Bob Fischer, JJAEP principal, and the No Place for Hate Coalition Team for spearheading this campaign, said Williamson County Juvenile Services Executive

Director Scott Matthew. Their hard-work and dedication to this project shows their commitment to our vision statement: Making a difference in our community: Creating opportunities for positive change through hope, empowerment, prevention, and accountability. We look forward to maintaining this designation for years to come, he added.

- 30 Photo caption: Scott Matthew (left) and Bob Fischer (right) hang the No Place for Hate at the Williamson County Academy.