Webinar Invitation YouthBuild Special Topic - Working with Youth: Gangs 101 A YouthBuild Special Topic Webinar-"Working with Youth: Gangs 101". This Webinar will provide participants with information on national trends, and regional information. Participants will learn how to identify the early warning signs that their youth are participating with gangs and hate groups. This session will serve as a precursor for additional training, instruction and action planning that will occur at scheduled regional and national YouthBuild gatherings. Presenters:  Ron "Cook" Barrett, Gang Prevention Specialist, Albany, New York Police Department Wayne Sakamoto, Director of Safe Schools, Murrieta Valley Unified School District Moderator:  Michelle Loosli, Project Director, Partners for Community Solutions Date:  10/13/2009 Time:  2pm Eastern (1:00pm/Central, 12:00pm/Mountain, 11:00am/Pacific) Length:  90 minutes A YouthBuild Special Topic Webinar-"Working with Youth: Gangs 101". More and more communities throughout the United States are finding that dealing with gangs and hate groups is a priority safety issue. Gangs and hate groups are directly tied to violence and harassment, narcotics use and trafficking, fights and aggression, assaults on agency staff, community dysfunction and fear. This Webinar will provide participants with information on national trends, and regional information. Participants will learn how to identify the early warning signs that their youth are participating with gangs and hate groups. Topics will include assessing your community for risk factors, and recognizing and reading gang related graffiti, tattoos, hand signs symbols and attire. This Webinar will serve as a precursor for additional training, instruction and action planning that will occur at scheduled regional and national YouthBuild gatherings. Register Now!!! Registration for this Webinar is limited and seating is on a first-come, first-served basis. Please click the link below to login to Workforce3 One and register today! http://www.workforce3one.org/view/5000926452677511665/info Please click the following link to perform a simple system diagnostic before you attempt to join the live Webinar: http://admin.adobe.acrobat.com/common/help/en/support/meeting_test.htm If you are deaf, hard-of-hearing, or have speech disabilities and captioning would facilitate your participation in this Webinar, you can register for captioning service through the Federal Relay Conference Captioning. Please note the Federal Relay Service requires at least 48 hours notice (2 working days) to guarantee coverage. For more information, visit http://www.workforce3one.org/page/webinarcaptioning.

If you are interested in attending the webinar, but find the webinar is full, please contact Debra McKenzie at dmckenzie@co.fresno.ca.us no later then 9:00AM October 12, 2009. She has a reserved a space and will host a limited number of seats for Fresno County residents to participate at a central location. Please contact Debra only if the webinar is full.

New Life Street Ministries' Ronnie Calderon led the effort to bring a live action drama performed by former gang members to illustrate the harsh realities of street life in a gang. The event featured former gang members from all over Fresno County coming together on stage to talk about their journey to ending a lifestyle of violence, drugs, and crime related to gangs. They were followed by former gang members from Los Angeles calling themselves Boyz in da Hood that performed the live action drama.

See a brief news clip below regarding the successful event.

download Spanish version of file here  

FocusGroup_Flyer_Spanish2.jpg (345.00 kb)

Boys & Girls Club Fresno County has established a teen center in Del Rey in part with funds from the 2008 CalGRIP state initiative. The grant is a partnership with the City of Sanger as lead agency, seven other communities in Southeast Fresno County, and County of Fresno. The teen center fills a huge need for the community as a positive social outlet for older youth who expressed to Club staff that they didnt have anyplace to go our hangout away from gangs and trouble. The building for the center was donated by Shining Light Ministries one of the CalGRIP faith-based partners and funds were used by the youth to redecorate, paint, and bring in games and activities to engage older youth.

An open house is scheduled for Friday, April 24 and Thursday, May 7 from 4 - 6PM

Call 559-888-2324 for more information

Romeo Garza, of Sanger Paint Supply, and the Sanger District Chamber of Commerce have been collaborating and working extra hard to find ways to rid Sanger of graffiti.  With the help of friends from Frazee Paint and Eco-Solutions, they were able to get approximately 240 gallons of paint donated. They will be distributing the paint in front of Sanger Paint Supply on Friday, April 17^th and Saturday, April 18^th from 9 AM-4 PM to Sanger residents/business owners who have been affected by graffiti.  The best part about this is that the paint is completely FREE!    

Prior to the pick-up days, individuals will need to come into the Chamber Office and fill out a brief application.  They have been asked to bring: a photo that shows vandalism (photo will not be returned), proof of Sanger residence (by water bill, graffiti citation, etc.), and a color sample of their building so that the paint can be matched exactly to its original color. 

The paint distribution made the Sanger Herald and included is the link in case you want to check it out.  It will be posted on the site until this Thursday, April 16th.  http://thesangerherald.com/  The effort falls on the heels of a recent town hall meeting on graffiti hosted by the City of Sanger.

Would love to hear your comments and experience with this great opportunity - did you participate in the free paint giveaway? Post a comment

For more information on tackling graffiti - visit these previous blog posts

Reporting Graffiti Information

Is Your Child A Tagger

Governor Passes Graffiti Legislation

A survey by the California Mentoring Foundation documented that 98% of youth in a mentoring relationship avoided gang participation. As we think about ways to reduce gang violence, preventing youth from joining in the first place is a key aspect.

 

January is recognized as National Mentoring Month. Not only will the County Board of Supervisors be recognizing the month via proclamation at the January 13^th Board meeting, but the newly formed Fresno County Mentoring Coalition will be hosting an event in partnership with Boys & Girls Club of Fresno County (Coalition member) to celebrate and offer opportunities for mentors and mentees to celebrate as well.

 

The event to take place on January 24^th simultaneously at the West Fresno and Pinedale Boys & Girls Clubs will feature games, food, music, and an opportunity to learn about the many mentoring programs taking place throughout the county. If you are a mentor, interested in becoming one, or what information for your friends or business this event is for you.

 

Additional Mentor Month information can be found at the following links:

§         National Mentoring Month Official Site http://www.nationalmentoringmonth.org/

§         Proclamation by President George W. Bush http://www.whitehouse.gov/news/releases/2008/12/20081230-1.html

§         Fresno Mentor Coalition - Mentor Month Public Service Announcement http://www.vimeo.com/2647969

 

Don’t forget January 22, 2008 is National Thank Your Mentor Day. Find out more information by clicking here

 

You can view a summary of Selma Gang Task Force meetings by visiting the FCGPC Gang Prevention Council web page by clicking here