On June 26, 2024, the Department of Homeland Security’s Center for Prevention Programs and Partnerships (CP3) announced the winners of the Invent2Prevent (I2P) Student Program, highlighting groundbreaking solutions to combat targeted violence and terrorism.
Empowering Youth to Prevent Violence
Sponsored by DHS’s CP3, the I2P program empowers youth to develop innovative solutions to prevent targeted violence and terrorism. This year’s competition featured 24 students from three colleges and three high schools presenting their projects to judges from academia, education, and government sectors. These initiatives aim to create more resilient local communities.
Collegiate Winners: University of Maryland’s infOasis
At the collegiate level, the University of Maryland College Park emerged victorious with their project, infOasis. This initiative equips teens with media literacy skills necessary for thoughtful and responsible engagement with digital content. Zoe Cross, a University of Maryland student, expressed her excitement, stating, “infOasis has such a bright future ahead of it, and I can’t wait to continue the mission of empowering teens through critical thinking skills.”
infOasis Highlights:
- Media literacy toolkits
- Interactive modules and mini-games
High School Winners: Penn Manor High School’s Friday Fun
Penn Manor High School took the top spot in the high school category with their project, Friday Fun. This initiative transforms study halls into periods for engaging in prosocial activities, reducing stress and social isolation among students. Fatuma Mussa, a student at Penn Manor, reflected on the experience, saying, “I2P not only widened our perspectives but was inspiring as young people to be included in the conversation of how to protect our communities.”
Friday Fun Highlights:
- Group games and activities
- Focus on mental health and community building
Nationwide Participation and Impact
The Spring 2024 I2P competition included students from 53 universities and high schools across the nation. Each team identified opportunities to improve the health and wellness of their communities, developing initiatives to decrease the likelihood of violence. CP3 Director Bill Braniff highlighted the significance of these efforts, noting, “These students showed us that by investing in strengths like coping skills, critical thinking, and community awareness, we can sow the seeds of prevention.”
Sustaining and Expanding Innovative Solutions
Since its inception in 2021, the I2P program has involved over 1,200 students from 119 universities and 138 high schools. Many past winners have applied for a year-long sustainment program to build on their projects’ successes. For instance, George Washington University’s Talk with Me: Debate to Deflate Hate project created a nationwide debate competition to combat hate and promote civil discourse.
Table: I2P Program Impact (2021-2024)
| Year | Universities Involved | High Schools Involved | Total Students |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2021 | 23 | 18 | 200 |
| 2022 | 45 | 30 | 400 |
| 2023 | 51 | 45 | 600 |
| 2024 | 53 | 45 | 1,200 |
Conclusion
The Invent2Prevent program continues to empower young minds to tackle targeted violence and terrorism, fostering a safer and more resilient future. Through innovative, community-based initiatives, these students are making a tangible impact on their schools and communities, proving that the next generation is ready to lead the way in violence prevention.
Sources: THX News & US Department of Homeland Security.
