Local Kids Question Hackensack City Council

HACKENSACK, NJ- Local children from Hackensack, who are part of the Kids Safety Awareness Program (KSAP), got the opportunity to address the Hackensack City Council at their meeting on Monday night. One by one Giana, Faith, Shaniya, Julius, Jordan, and Michael Jr. ages eight to 12 walked up to the podium and asked the council members their questions, from how they got elected to what a typical day is like as a City Council member. Shaniya, age 11, asked if being a council member is a full-time job or if they have other professions. She received a bevy of answers; Councilwoman Greenman is an attorney, Mayor Labrosse works at Hackensack University Medical Center, and Deputy Mayor Canestrino had a 20-year career in aerospace engineering.

After meeting with the mayor of Teaneck earlier in the summer, the kids were very interested in meeting those who ran their own city. “The kids were very excited to be a part of the council meeting; to see how government runs and to be able to ask questions of their city’s council members,” said Genesis Liu, a certified safety instructor and founder of KSAP. “It was a great opportunity for them.”

The Kids Safety Awareness Program is a Hackensack-based non-profit organization that teaches kids how to keep themselves safe in dangerous situations. Liu discovered through talking with parents that kids were generally unaware of basic safety knowledge and wouldn’t know what to do in case of an emergency at home or at school. KSAP provides that knowledge. Whether faced with bullying, unwelcome adults, natural disasters, or the presence of a gun, children are taught how to be alert, trust their instincts, and make smart decisions in unsafe or potentially unsafe situations.

KSAP safety classes for children 5 years old and up will be held on Tuesdays from September to November from 4-6pm at the Executive House Community Room, 301 Beech Street, Hackensack, NJ 07601. Private Group sessions are available and can be scheduled at www.ksapteam.org. Classes range from $10 - $25 per student and each child gets a “go bag” for emergencies which includes a headlight, water bottles, wipes, snacks and other items needed in a black out or another emergency situation.

For more information on Kids Safety Awareness Program and please contact Genesis Liu at KSAPteam@aol.com.