Painted pinkies for Operation Jungle Red

Dover — The Grace Smith House in Poughkeepsie and Women’s Support Services in Sharon, Conn., brought Operation Jungle Red to the Dover Union Free School District for a third consecutive year on Friday, Nov. 14.The event marked Dover High School’s third year of participation and Dover Middle School’s second.Personnel from the two organizations manned tables in the middle and high school and explained their mission to passing students: to spread the message that violence is wrong.Students who agreed signed a pledge against violence and had their pinkies painted red.Women’s Support Services Community Educator and Child Advocate Rebecca Cohen said the nail-painting serves as a means to spark conversation about the cause — that when others see a person with just one nail painted, they may ask what it’s for.“It’s originally based off the stereotype that men don’t paint their nails,” said Grace Smith House Prevention Educator Maxine Valencia.Cohen said the program started in 2008 at Miami University in Ohio following the Virginia Tech shooting in 2007. In 2011, Operation Jungle Red made its way northeast to Western Connecticut State University.The program this year at Dover was coordinated with student club Youth for Diversity, advised by Student Assistance Counselor Savita Mangar.Though pledging and painting occurred only on Friday, Youth for Diversity arranged a full week of themes for Operation Jungle Red.On Monday, students wore black to represent risk awareness — which club President LaShon Swan said was about the risks of drugs and other forms of abuse to one’s self and family; schools were out Tuesday for Veterans Day; students wore yellow for animal abuse awareness on Wednesday; purple for domestic violence awareness on Thursday; and red for the main program on Friday.Swan said it was important to spread the message against violence to her classmates.“It’s important because violence is becoming a big problem in our community,” she said.Sixth-grader Ryan Romano signed up “because fighting could injure a lot of people.”Sixth-grader Emilio Alarcon said he pledged because of his strong views against terrorism.“I don’t like violence, and I hate seeing people hurt, especially when it comes to bullying,” said sixth-grader Natalia Merchan.“My whole thing is about ending violence,” said junior Johnathan Kolessar-Wright. “I want to change the world.”Not only students, but staff pledged too.“I think it’s a great program,” said Superintendent of Schools Mike Tierney after pledging. “Anything we can do to heighten the kids’ awareness.”According to Cohen, 406 students and staff signed on Friday.

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