A $22,000 donation from Verizon will help the University of Arkansas at Little Rock further prevent campus violence.

The funds support the university’s Green Dot program, which began in 2012. The Green Dot program was established at the University of Kentucky and has since been replicated at more than 100 campuses throughout the country, although UALR was the first to implement the initiative in Arkansas.

The Green Dot program uses a comprehensive strategy that capitalizes on the power of peer and cultural influences. It seeks to engage community members through awareness, education, and skills initiatives that reduce the tolerance of violence and increase effective reactions during high-risk situations.

The program focuses on persuading people to take action to end violence, specifically sexual assault, bullying, domestic violence, child/elder abuse, and stalking.

Training session participants learn safe methods to intervene in ways that might save a life or prevent injury.

The funds from Verizon will be used to cover these costs:

• A graduate assistant to assist with programming
• Materials and supplies
• Marketing/advertising/publications
• Software
• Training/professional development

For more information about UALR’s Green Dot program, visit https://ualr.edu/greendot/what-is-green-dot.

Photo: Pictured from left: Schawnee Hightower, associate director of strategic sales at Verizon, University of Arkansas at Little Rock Chancellor Joel E. Anderson (center) and Patrick Lee, Verizon associate sales director