Guardian Angels graduate in Green Bay Alejandra Mejia of Green Bay gets help with her beret by Guardian Angels' senior director Arnaldo Salinas of Brooklyn, N.Y., prior to the graduation ceremony Sunday. Mejia received the flowers from co-workers (photo by Tina Gohr). By Anna Krejci News-Chronicle Some angels don't get wings, they get red berets. The Green Bay Chapter of the Guardian Angels graduated its first class of members Sunday at the Multicultural Center of Green Bay. Four women and two men shook hands with their trainers, the Green Bay mayor, the Green Bay police chief and top Guardian Angels representatives. "I feel like I've really accomplished a lot," said Belen Solorio, one of Green Bay's first Guardian Angels. The most challenging part of her training was "just realizing how dangerous it was to go out there and patrol the streets with just our hands to protect us." she said. The Guardian Angels is a volunteer-driven organization whose programs are aimed at keeping kids out of gangs associated with crime and drugs by offering young people membership in a gang on the right side of the law. One of the organization's functions is to deter crime by patrolling streets. Solorio said the human relations and communication training she received will help her mediate confrontations. During the graduation ceremony Sunday, chapter leader Jason Costa lead graduates in pledges to use "minimal force" in self defense, honor the laws, be positive images for the community and respect all Guardian Angels as equals. The mayor congratulated the graduates and made an appeal that they be partners in making visitors and citizens feel welcome in Green Bay. "This is a great day for Green Bay," he said, and added that the door to his office would always be open to the Guardian Angels. Jose Rubio, Marco Zacarias, Alejandra Sierra, Alejandra Mejia and Crystal Trejo were among today's graduates. Although Guardian Angels has chapters overseas and in large cities across the United States such as Chicago, the size of the city does not lessen the importance of the organization's efforts according to Curtis Sliwa, Guardian Angels founder and president. During the ceremony he shared the successful growth of a North Carolina chapter of the Guardian Angels that has 8 members in a community with a population of 1500. Green Bay has a population of approximately 100,000. In a prior interview, Costa said he was happy with the progress of Green Bay's chapter. In the first six months of the chapter's existence, 18 are in the program. Ten trainees are waiting to graduate. He named community support as an achievement. Before the ceremony, Mike Destree, president of the Allouez Kiwanis Club, said the club appreciates the Guardian Angels' dedication to their goals and donated a digital camera to the group. Costa said the Guardian Angels have been offered a facility on the east side of Green Bay and now the chapter needs to raise money to cover the cost of utilities, an estimated $300-$500 a month. In three months Jorge Perez, who attended Sunday's graduation, will graduate as a Guardian Angel. "I can help the community. I can be there for them," he said.