by KYW's Nancy Griffin

A Jewish social service agency hopes to get Philadelphia area students to sing a different tune when it comes to violence and drugs.

Students from about 15 Philadelphia-area schools entered an anti-violence lyric and art contest but only three took away top prizes; middle-schoolers Lynette Alvarado, Ciara Williford and Crystal Martinez.  All three attend Julio De Burgos School in Kensington.

Lynette Alvarado:

“We had to write a song talking about how to get all this violence off the streets and what you would do and I won first prize.”

Ciara Williford:

“I'd rather be a positive role model than a negative influence to kids that are younger than me.”

Crystal Martinez:

“My lyrics were called ‘Open Your Eyes.’ It was kind of like basically trying to open your eyes so you can see everything around you and try to stop it."

Teacher Maryanne Combe:

“I work for Project Pride which is a program of the Jewish Family and Children's Service. Project Pride provides drug and alcohol prevention services middle-schoolers.”