Abbott Tech Student Selected to Speak at
Governor's Prevention Partnership Conference

Franscesca Fucci, a Junior in the Culinary Arts program at Henry Abbott Technical High School, was selected to speak at the annual Governor's Prevention Partnership Conference held at Pratt and Whitney in East Hartford on Tuesday, September 26th. Francesca was one of only five students who spoke to the audience that included Governor Jodi Rell and UCONN basketball coach Jim Calhoun.

In 1995, the Governor's Prevention Partnership created the Safe Schools and Communities Coalition to build and promote a common knowledge base of best practices to prevent youth crime and violence. The program comprises more than 1,000 educators, police, youth workers, parents and other concerned citizens.

Francesca spoke about her involvement in the Peer Mediation program which has been successfully implemented at all of the Connecticut Technical High Schools. The program trains students to become mediators in an effort to resolve conflicts between students in a peaceful manner. Francesca has been involved in the Peer Mediation program at Abbott Tech since her freshmen year. "I am a shy person so I even surprised myself when I signed up for the program." Francesca said that she really enjoys being a mediator. "I enjoy working with my peers and helping them through their problems. I feel like I'm really making my school a great place to learn."

Left to right: George Coleman - Commissioner of Education, Francesca,
and Gail Fay - Dean of Students at Abbott Tech