You need a village to raise a street-safe child and you need street-safe children to help protect the village's property values.

So says safety, security and crime-prevention guru, Orinda, CA-based Stephanie Mann, who also says giving kids positive values is a way to help shore up community value.

"As you know, violence, graffiti, gangs, drugs, burglary, theft, assaults and vandalism reduce property values, quality of life and cost our cities dollars," says Mann.

Mann's newest book, "Street-Safe Kids," (Community Peacemakers, $20) is the centerpiece of a new community self-help program bearing the same name.

The book, published by Oakland, CA-based Community Peacemakers, an Oakland-based nonprofit group, is the program's self-help interactive guide offering practical exercises and stories designed to promote self awareness, self control, self discipline in kids.

Community Peacemakers works with neighborhood groups, leaders and volunteer resources to co-produce programs and events designed to foster peace, non-violence and social justice in the community.

The book's first section focuses on preteens and teens, while the second section provides steps for parents and adults who live and work with youth. The tome and partner program are designed to foster communications, conflict resolution, interpersonal relationships, block parent programs and parties, working with police and developing community safety committees. There are approaches to violence and drug use, safety issues, time management, building self esteem and anger control.

"Street Safe Kids gives parents, neighborhood councils, civic and religious organizations the tools they need to help strengthen family support and involvement," Mann said.

Mann's first book, "Alternative to Fear: Guidelines for Safer Neighborhoods" (Lodestar Press, 1975) helped launch the renown National Neighborhood Watch Program. Her follow-up book, "Safe Homes, Safe Neighborhoods: Stopping Crime Where You Live" (Nolo Press, $14.95) is out of print, but the encyclopedia of information on neighborhood safety and can be found in most libraries.

By combining their experiences and those of others living and working in "high crime" neighborhoods, Mann and Peacemakers also created the new book to focus on helping teens find their spiritual center and take charge of their own lives.

The program has been practiced in California's East San Francisco Bay Area cities of San Pablo, Pittsburg, and Richmond, with adults and kids reaching out to help each other.

"The preventive philosophy can help us direct youthful energy in positive directions and away from vandalism, juvenile delinquency, drug use, and other activities that negatively affect the quality of life," says Oakland city manager Robert C. Bobb.

Published: June 15, 2000

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A journalist for 35-years, Broderick Perkins parlayed an old-school daily newspaper career into a digital news service offering editorial content and consulting services. Perkins' San Jose, CA-based DeadlineNews Group includes the flagship news site, DeadlineNews.Com, offering real estate, personal finance and consumer journalism, and a backshop, the Deadline Newsroom.