Solorio Hosting Gang/Youth Violence Town hall

This just came over the transom:

Assemblyman Solorio Invites Public To Town Hall On Gangs and Youth Violence

Local Leaders and Former Gang Members Will Present Community-Based Solutions For Prevention, Intervention and Re-Entry 

ANAHEIM, CA — Assembly Public Safety Committee Chairman Jose Solorio (D-Anaheim) is inviting interested Orange County residents to a town hall meeting on Friday, August 31st to discuss community-based solutions to gang and youth violence. 

“I have been working hard in Sacramento to find solutions to the state’s gang and youth violence problem.  I believe the solutions to these problems will be found in our local communities.  I look forward to hearing input from community leaders, former gang members and the public on this pressing issue,” said Assemblyman Solorio.   

The town hall will provide panelists and attendees with an opportunity to discuss the impact community-based organizations and public organizations can have on our youth through innovative prevention, intervention, and re-entry strategies.

The budget currently being considered by the Legislature provides $9.5 million in competitive grant funding to cities and community-based organizations for gang prevention, intervention, re-entry, education, job training, skills development, and family and community services.   

Invited panelists include: Anaheim Mayor Curt Pringle, Garden Grove Mayor William Dalton, Santa Ana Mayor Miguel Pulido, Ava Steaffens, President, KidWorks, Margot R. Carlson, Executive Director, Community Service Programs, Seferino Garcia, Solevar/Agape House of Prayer, Colleene Preciado, Chief, Orange County Probation Department, 8% Early Intervention Program, Sister Eileen McNerney, Executive Director, Taller San Jose, Isabel Melloni, La Familia Drug Abuse Center, Sheriff Michael S. Corona, Sheriff’s Department, Ignacio Hernandez, YouthBuild/Conservation Corps, and Geoff Henderson, Senior Program Director, Phoenix Houses of California.

Panelists have been asked to present success stories regarding their work and suggestions for how the state government may help their organizations accomplish their goals.  Their presentations will include Power Point presentations, remarks from youth speakers (including former gang members) and other forms of Multi-Media (including videos and music).

The town hall will be he held on Friday, August 31st from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. at the Rancho Santiago Community College District Board Room located at 2323 N. Broadway Street, Santa Ana, 92706.

To RSVP or for more information, please contact Assemblyman Solorio’s District Office at (714) 939-8469 or email juan.flores@asm.ca.gov.

Maybe Thomas Gordon can attend ask the Assemblyman and former Santa Ana Councilmember what he thinks of his former council colleagues' plan for going into debt to rebuild the city's streets.

Comments

[He tries to be like the Hon. Michele Martinez]

Santa Ana Councilwoman Michele Martinez started these in Santa Ana earlier this year. Can't Jose think up his own ideas to try to connect with residents? How many town hall meetings on gangs to we really need in a 3 month period?

[Patricia]

"Panelists have been asked to present success stories regarding their work and suggestions for how the state government may help their organizations accomplish their goals."

Dancing for Dollars!!

I urge Pringle to start a NYC-type program-- not fixing broken windows, but maybe enforcing the law against stealing shopping carts--instead of funding feel good programs.

This LA story is instructive on the effectiveness of such payoffs (with taxpayer money): http://www.laweekly.com/news/news/did-city-hall-fund-a-gun-runner/16534/

[H. Tervola]

Could the first thought on my internet page www.paradisewins.net be used in youth work in order to tranform the gangs to a positive force in the society instead of a negative factor?