Politics & Government

A City With Integrity

Integrity in Action, a community-wide character development program promoting integrity throughout Dublin, kicked off Monday evening.

It wasn't hard for speakers at the launch of the Dublin Integrity in Action character program to cite examples of integrity in Dublin.

Speakers reminded the audience that the student body at has embraced , a student with Down syndrome. Rachel is a varsity cheerleader and was named last fall.

They pointed out that more recently, students at donated their hair to Locks of Love, a nonprofit organization that makes wigs for children who've lost hair because of medical conditions. 

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"When you walk on campus you see students really like each other," said board trustee Dan Cunningham.

Integrity was the theme Monday night as officials, community members, students and teachers gathered at the new Dublin High Library to introduce the program. 

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The nonprofit recognizes individuals and businesses for "Integrity in Action." Each month focuses on positive character traits such as being respectful, responsible, caring and having a positive attitude.

"My belief is that both organizations, City Services and School Services, indeed share the traits they are representing throughout our community," said Janet Lockhart, president of the Integrity in Action program.

She added that the goal is to expand the program "to the individual businesses for their customers and employees, throughout the private schools to all of the students being educated in Dublin, and into the various religious facilities and other private nonprofit organizations that do such amazing work in Dublin."

 senior and student body President , who recently received an appointment to U.S. Military Academy at West Point, hailed Integrity in Action.

"This is an excellent program for our students," he said. "Integrity is noticed —colleges notice and work places notice."

Superintendent Stephen Hanke said, "It really is all about our kids. We want them to demonstrate an understanding of good character."

Mayor Tim Sbranti reminded the group that the program has been in the school district for a few years and that community members initially selected the monthly character traits.

"These traits are traits that come from the Dublin community," he said. "That's what this program is about — bringing everyone together."

Additional guest speakers included Greg Clark, former 49ers player, and Napolean Kaufman, who played for the Raiders.

"I appreciate this program as a parent, I really do," said Clark, who coaches his son's sports team. What it means, according to Clark, is "doing the right thing and always doing the right thing when no one is looking at you." He said he heard the phrase recently at On Deck Sports Academy in Dublin.

Kaufman thanked people in the community who have made Integrity in Action a reality. "This is having an impact and means so much to me and this community."

To learn more about Integrity in Action, e-mail dublinintegrityinaction@yahoo.com.


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