Community Gang Initiative

Community Gang Initiative

Several individuals and organizations have been meeting for the past few months to discuss and brainstorm solutions regarding the gang problem in Rochester and Olmsted County.  The goal of this effort is to come up with a viable focused initiative to effectively address the gang problem in our community.

The Eastside Pioneers Neighborhood Association (ESPNA) is a participant in this effort.

As you may know,  the Eastside Pioneers Neighborhood Association has a long standing interest in the gang issue. In late 2007 and early 2008, our neighborhood association sponsored a couple of community forums focusing on gangs and the prevalence of youth violence and gangs.

In a November 2007 RNeighbors blog article entitled, “Discussion  on Gangs”, the ESPNA
stated that “we would like to see a collaborative effort between law enforcement, the Boys and Girls Club, Head Start, schools, social service agencies, the media, the clergy, RNeighbors and businesses to help keep kids out of gangs.”
Today we are seeing greater community participation with the involvement of such organizations as United Way, RNeighbors and the Rochester Area Foundation to mention but a few.
Informational meetings, discussions and brainstorming sessions have yielded a great deal of information regarding the prevention, intervention and suppression of gangs locally.
The leadership team currently overseeing the process is working on compiling and coordinating information gathered thus far to present to the public for further analysis and input.
The public is invited to a Community Gang Initiative Information update on Thursday, April 29 from 6:30-8:00 PM  in the Commons at the Heintz Center. The meeting is open to all people who are ready to learn about and respond to the challenges facing youth in our community: county officials, law enforcement, educators; community, neighborhoods, and faith-based organizations; and citizens. Convened by United Way of Olmsted County to update you on the activities of the Community Gang Initiative in the first quarter of 2010.

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