Lehigh Carbon Community College in Tamaqua hosted a four-day "Green Dot" training program called Bystander Intervention. The Live the Green Dot organization strives to reduce violence by preparing a strategy for a community. Bystander Intervention focuses on training community members how to respond to violent behavior, as it happens or when it's suspected.

Representatives hailed from service clubs, law enforcement, town councils, youth groups, the Schuylkill County District Attorney's office, domestic violence organizations, health organizations, college students and parents."I'm just a mom," one woman said. "I'm here to learn how to fight bullying."The training leaders welcomed her, and said that reducing violent behavior starts with one person who is concerned enough to take action."At some point, everyone in this room will be a bystander to a violent crime," said Lea Hegge, WA, one of the Green Dot trainers. "There is no neutral, because we'll either do something or do nothing; we'll do something or walk away."Green Dot came to Tamaqua in 2013, when Police Chief Richard Weaver saw an increase in serious crime, such as rape and robbery. He did some research, which led him to the Green Dot program.Tamaqua got a $250,000 grant from the Department of Justice to bring the program to town. The LCCC training kicks off the Green Dot campaign.Although the incidences of violent crime seem steadily on the rise, a united community effort can cause a shift, the Green Dot trainers said. In fact, a Green Dot core belief is that people can systematically reduce violence in a community one neighborhood at a time."Culture changes all the time and if you don't believe that, just picture your high school graduation photo," Hegge said. "Fifty years ago, we were still fighting about who could sit where on a bus; we were still struggling with seeing women have a career."I'm not saying these issues have been totally solved, but things have definitely changed," she concluded. "We have to believe that we can see something happening, and make a difference."And there's no time like the present to start to implement change, said Tisha Pletcher, Green Dot trainer.She described her early career, counseling victims of violence.One person would leave a counseling session, and there was always another person waiting, she said."There would always be another, like a revolving door," Pletcher remembered. "We are in a desperate race, for my kids and your kids, to learn how to prevent folks from getting hurt in our communities."Pletcher said that reducing violence in a community rests on its members, who must take responsibility on a personal level.After completing the four-day training, attendees can return to their communities and organizations, and spread the word about techniques for Bystander Intervention.Maureen Donovan, who heads the Center for Leadership and Workforce Development for LCCC, said she was proud to host the training session."I learned about it (Green Dot) and thought it fit in perfectly with the whole concept of a community college," Donovan said. "It's all about service to the community, which is so important for all of us."