Having cameras, having security guards, all those things help to make parents and people in the community feel secure, but what we really need students to take the lead in making a change in the culture of their schools.

These are people who are seen to be relatively powerless, invisible, easy targets for hate and . . . heavily stigmatized and misunderstood.

I don't think it's ever appropriate for us to make light of significant human pain . . . when people feel fearful, walking down the street, for who they are. I wouldn't laugh at a movie that attempted to portray lynching in a funny way. Hate violence is just not acceptable fodder for comedy.

It's a really good program, good people. They help people get back on their feet and back into the community ... pregnant mothers, families in crisis and transition, domestic violence victims.

The response was just amazing. So many people from the community stepped up to help, the numbers are just tremendous. The whole community came out and really gave everything they had.

That's the nice thing about this community. People really come together to help out in situations like these.