Assemblymember Mary Salas will host a Town Hall meeting on Gang Prevention on Thursday May 17th from 6pm to 7pm at the Tubman Chavez Center 415 Euclid Avenue. 

In the past three years, gang violence that used to be directed at one another has been redirected toward law enforcement.  Communities that are struggling with the presence of gangs in their community are in dire need of assistance.  “Often, local community groups are understaffed and working through their day to day programs.  There is a need to come together as a community and discuss prevention strategies,” says Assemblymember Salas. 

Assemblymember Salas was joined by a panel of community leaders and gang prevention experts, Pierre Alexander, Community Development Foundation; Hilliard Harper, Young Audiences of San Diego; Benita Page, Choice Program; Chela Pino-Jarvis, Police Athletic League; Martha Sainz, Sergeant, Juvenile Administration; and Dana Greisen, San Diego County District Attorney’s Office.  Among the panelist was Benita Page of the Choice Program, “The Choice Program offers a six-week parenting course that focuses on enhancing family functioning skills when managing a high-risk youth.  Other ways parents can support their children include participation with your child’s school, know their friends, have family times and activities, have your child in organized sports and seek family counseling.”  Several other programs were presented by the panelist as well.  Strategies for helping prevent gang involvement were the focus of this town hall meeting.  Community involvement was a key concept discussed in preventing at-risk youth form being lured by the prospects of gang involvement. 

“By creating community leadership programs we can connect these kids with community members from all backgrounds and professions to help mentor these teens into the leaders of tomorrow,” declared Assemblymember Salas.