Houston PAL Officers Teach BrainWise

Posted On: November 8, 2024

BrainWise Builds Trusting Relationships.

Sergeant Letricia Brown and her team of police officers faced a challenge. In 2019, they were asked to relaunch the Greater Houston Police Department’s Police Activities League (PAL) and build trusting relationships between youth, law enforcement, and the community. She said, “We did not have much direction. We had nothing.”

That changed when they attended BrainWise instructor Matt Sena’s presentation at the New Orleans PAL conference in 2021. Her officers exclaimed, “Sarge, we have to do this!” She agreed and made BrainWise the foundation of their program. Afterwards, the officers said, “We get it, we understand it, and the kids love it!” She watched them become comfortable teaching the program.

They customized examples by using problems the children faced at home and school, as well as issues in the community and world. She said the officers understood how “Everyone Has Problems” is different for each participant and how it helps children recognize that a big problem for them may not be a problem for someone else. All the Wise Ways resonated with the kids and the officers liked the simplicity of the explanations.

We take the Constellation of Support, Red Flag Warnings, Lizard Brain/Wizard Brain and the other concepts and help the children apply them to what they see in real life,” she said.  The BrainWise Program – 10 Wise Ways – The BrainWise Program

Sergeant Brown shared stories, including how the officers said they prepared to teach the classes. “I never thought that I, as an officer, would be taking the material home to study it before we go into a class to teach it,” one told her. Another said she goes home on Sundays after church, spreads out the materials and prepares for the weekly session. Sergeant Brown beamed, “It is neat to see how invested they are and how they make sure they are delivering BrainWise in a positive way.”

BrainWise Changes Behaviors. Sergeant Brown says officers are rewarded by seeing behaviors that show the kids are learning important skills. She shared examples, including one that she, faculty, and parents witnessed between two students during a heated girls’ basketball game.

The referee did not call any fouls on the opposing team’s player who kept bumping into a PAL student. Emotions between the girls continued to rise and  at the end of the game, after a taunt from the offending player, the PAL student moved toward her. Suddenly she stopped, turned around, and walked back. The other girl said, “Hey, where are you going? We’re not done with this.”

The student went to the PAL officer and said, “I’m trying to use my Wizard Brain, but that person is trying to make me use my Lizard Brain.”

BrainWise Meets a Need.

Sergeant Brown said, “These kids are hungry for knowledge and guidance. When you have officers teaching BrainWise concepts, it’s a ‘no-brainer.’ We have seen them change from resistance to participation, and teachers comment all the time about the positive changes they see in their students.”

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