Thank You for Putting this up mate.
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This is an Open Letter from the person who we coordinated with at the Rhode Island Training School about the Program itself. Thanks for your support.
Rhode Island Training School
Division of Juvenile Correctional Services
57 Power Rd.
Cranston, RI 02920
Tel. (401) 462-7224 Fax. (401) 462-7392
September 6, 2012
To Whom It May Concern:
I want to take an opportunity to acknowledge the Youth Rugby Program at the RI Training School. In February of 2012, the Institute for Nonviolence, Extreme Sports Division, introduced Lawrence Almagno and the RI Rebellion to the RI Training School. At that time, Administrators at the RI Training School arranged to bring the Rebellion into the Facility and introduce our population to the sport of Rugby. The sport of Rugby and the Rebellion were welcomed by the young men at the Training School with open arms and the program has been thriving for the past six months.
Hearing Officer Zuena and Rebellion Founder Lawrence Almagno have supervised this program and coordinated weekly practices and various events since the program?s inception. Participants began learning about the sport of Rugby by viewing exciting videos of game play. Within a very short period of time, every resident wanted to be involved. Quickly, drills turned into scrimmages and scrimmages turned into full-contact games. Highlights of this program have included inviting the New Zealand Police/SWAT Rugby Team to the Facility for a tour, scrimmage with the youth, and a pizza party for all of the participants. Our residents continue to talk about this exciting experience every day. Another wonderful highlight of this program was gaining the support of community members. Namely, Paul Ullucci and Ullucci Sports Medicine/Physical Therapy who was gracious enough to outfit each of the Training School participants with grey Ullucci Sports Medicine shirts that they proudly wear for each of our practices. The Rugby season concluded with a ?soup to nuts?, full-contact game of Rugby between the RI Rebellion players and the RI Training School players. Residents were partnered up with professionals and outfitted with authentic Rebellion uniforms. The field was lined for a rugby game, and there was an official referee. All staff and residents at the Training School attended the game, with the female residents on the sidelines cheering for their favorite team. This event concluded with a cookout for the entire facility and an awards ceremony for all of the participants. These are some wonderful memories that the youth participants will never forget.
Bringing the sport of Rugby to the RI Training School has done a number of wonderful things for the Facility. We have been able to expose the residents of the Training School to new and exciting opportunities awaiting them upon release. We have been able to highlight each participant?s strongest attributes and help each participant to acknowledge and show pride in his own accomplishments. Most importantly, we have been able to motivate our youth to do things that they never thought were possible. Namely, these young men have been able to battle on the Rugby field week-in and week-out without displaying any negative behavior. Rival gang members have played side-by-side to accomplish one goal?becoming a better Rugby player and a better person. In many cases these youth, who considered themselves ?enemies? in their communities, would face off on opposite teams and compete against each other in a full-contact game of Rugby. They would prove their worth on the field and never bring the rivalry back into the Facility when the game was over. Each practice and each game would conclude with all participants shaking hands and congratulating one another. No one was allowed to walk away from this symbolic event.
On behalf of the Facility and all of the youth participants, I want to thank the RI Rebellion and all of the stakeholders for believing and investing in our youth at the RI Training School.
Sincerely,
Jason A. Zuena
Hearing Officer
RI Training School
jason.zuena@dcyf.ri.gov
