About Us
Welcome to our coalition dedicated to fostering safer, more resilient communities.
Comprising a diverse array of professionals including educators, criminologists, mental health clinicians, professional counselors, software engineers, retired law enforcement officers, school resource officers, women’s empowerment leaders, and military veterans, we unite under a common mission to combat community and school violence at its roots.
Through our coalition of professionals, we offer tailored interventions in several critical disciplines. Our counselors and trainers can address Social-Emotional Learning, educator and student resilience, conflict resolution strategies, mental health awareness as well as sexual assault prevention and awareness.
Our safety and security teams can address risk mitigation, conduct risk assessments and offer immediate recommendations. Our software engineers offer ways to seamlessly integrate existing security infrastructure with innovative state of the art AI driven security systems designed specifically for schools and community use.
Northern Star Origin Story
On May 24, 2022, there was a shooting at an elementary school in Uvalde Texas. During the media coverage, a mother, who had been working on a farm in the nearby fields, whose children attended the school, raced to the school to save her children. There she was met by law enforcement at the perimeter trying to keep people at a safe distance from the school. Upon seeing inaction on the part of law enforcement, this mother fought the police to save her children. She was detained when a news camera crew began filming her. Frantically she screamed into the camera “DO SOMETHING”! Ultimately, she succeeded after being released, she charged towards the school, sneaked in unseen, found her children, and led them and other children to safety.
Northern Star School Safety Coalition began that day. It was a response to her demand. Learning of the loss of life, the failures, what could have been, three veterans, two with law enforcement careers, came together to form Northern Star, a coalition of educators, criminologists, mental health professionals, retired law enforcement, and veterans. Northern Star is dedicated to violence prevention, building communities to be more aware, responsive and resilient, hopefully preventing a tragedy like Uvalde. This is our “DO SOMETHING”. What’s yours? We invite you to join our Coalition by helping, volunteering or giving to this cause.
Mission
We work to reduce violence and create safer communities through inclusive collaboration and evidence-based strategies. By empowering stakeholders, we aim to protect people in schools, places of worship, and public spaces.
Our approach includes on-site presentations, free lunch-and-learn sessions, and collaborative workgroups. These initiatives bring community representatives together for problem-based learning and solutions. This method fosters trust, uncovers root causes of violence, and equips communities, neighborhoods, and schools to implement targeted, effective interventions tailored to their specific needs.
Vision
We aim to build communities strengthened by proactive measures, education, and resources to prevent violence and trauma. Through collaboration and tailored solutions, we create safe environments in schools, colleges, places of worship, and public spaces, fostering growth and unity.
By leveraging community expertise and the dedication of our coalition, we drive lasting positive change, promoting safety and empowerment. We invite you to join our mission by welcoming us into your community or supporting Northern Star through contributions. Together, we can unite to combat violence and create a brighter, safer future for all.
