For more than five years, Jeanette LaVerne has served as a board member with Neighborhood Housing Services of Minneapolis. For her work with neighborhood youth, LaVerne received the Teresa S. Ruhland Youth Award in 2004. LaVerne demonstrates leadership by example. When she learned that a new neighborhood boy was crying because some kids on the block had taken his bike, LaVerne brought both sides together. She explained that the new boy was lonely and his bike was his only friend. The kids returned the bike and began to talk with their new neighbor. Within a few weeks, all of the children were playing together.  LaVerne also is dedicated to neighborhood crime prevention.  Convinced that she could make a difference, LaVerne refused to allow her advanced age to discourage her.  She attended the police academy and passed the exam.  She is now a member of the Police Advisory for the 4th precinct and works closely with the police department to resolve local crime issues.