Youth and Gang Violence Prevention Task Force Meeting Held

May 29, 2004
Subject :

Youth and Gang Violence Prevention Task Force Meeting Held
40-Member Group A Strategic Part of a Larger Framework to Tackle Youth Violence
Contact : Kathy Parsons 562-570-7099
On Monday, May 11, forty members of the newly formed City of Long Beach Youth and Gang Violence Prevention Task Force (Task Force) met for the first time.

”This is now the community’s opportunity to say enough is enough, and provide a productive alternative to youth and gang violence,” said Long Beach Mayor Beverly O’Neill.

The Task Force is part of a larger framework designed to respond to recommendations from the Human Relations Commissions Report which identified complex causes for youth and gang violence ranging from prejudice, poverty, limited job skills, lack of jobs, and drug and criminal behavior. The recommendations from the report are far ranging and require a coordinated citywide response. In addition to the Task Force, the entire operating framework provides for Youth and Gang Violence Prevention Focus Groups, an Executive Team, and a Resource Team.

Background

On November 4, 2003, Lydia Hollie, representing the Human Relations Commission (HRC), presented to the City Council an “Interim Report and Re-examination of the Problems of Youth and Gang Violence in the City of Long Beach.” The report reflected the detrimental impacts of youth violence on the quality of life and human relations in the city. Further, the report called for the formation of a task force to develop a citywide comprehensive approach to implement its recommendations, identifying both long and short-term goals. At the conclusion of the presentation, the City Council directed the City Manager to create a task force as recommended.

Since that time staff from the City’s various departments, the Long Beach Unified School District and the Human Relations Commission have met on a continuous basis to align resources, review program policies and benchmark successful programs from other cities.

As part of this process, a joint meeting of the Public Safety Committee and the Housing and Neighborhood Committee conducted a Youth and Gang Summit in February of this year with over 100 community members attending.

The following operating framework was created.

Youth and Gang Violence Prevention Task Force

The Youth and Gang Violence Prevention Task Force represents every major leadership sector of the community. Members were selected specifically for their expertise and interest in youth and youth violence prevention.

The Task Force will identify the overarching objectives from the HRC report, identify possible approaches and recommend strategies to implement the recommendations from the HRC report, and ensure alignment of the strategic direction. This Task Force will provide a “big picture” approach to planning.

A list of the Task Force members is attached.

Youth and Gang Violence Focus Groups

Based on the recommendations from the Task Force, Youth and Gang Violence Prevention Focus Groups will be formed to develop specific strategies to implement those recommendations. These Focus Groups, composed of representatives from youth-serving organizations, faith-based organizations, law enforcement, and educational, business and neighborhood organizations, will be formed around specific strategic-focus areas to take advantage of each member’s distinct skills, knowledge, ability and program orientation. Recommendations to various focus groups will be made as the Task Force develops specific strategic directions.

Executive Committee

This Executive Committee is composed of the highest leadership of the city to reflect the diverse interests impacted by youth violence. It will provide oversight of the implementation process, as well as direct support for resource allocation.

A list of the Executive Committee members is attached.

The Resource Team

The Resource Team is comprised of City and Long Beach Unified (LBUSD) staff, with input from the HRC. The Resource Team is responsible for providing support, for reviewing the City’s current youth-serving policies and programs, identifying programs by goals and targeted population and activities, benchmarking programs from other cities and recommending an operating framework to implement the HRC recommendations.

A list of the Resource Team members is attached.

This operating framework provides an opportunity for the entire community, youth-serving agencies, as well as LBUSD and City programs to work collectively toward sustained solutions to youth and gang violence.

YOUTH AND GANG VIOLENCE PREVENTION TASK FORCE OPERATING FRAMEWORK

Task Force Falanai Ala, Samoan Community
Kelvin Anderson, Owner, VIP Records
Mike Bassett, EPC Chair/Youth Services Network
Yolanda Benavides, Long Beach School for Adults
Alvin Bernstein, Prevention and Intervention Services
Sheila Callahan, District Attorney’s Office
Raymond Chavarria, Latino Business Education Center
Enrique Castro, Youth Services, Family Services of Long Beach
Rev. James Dok, Executive Director, United Cambodian Community
Freedom Writer – TBD
Lysa Gamboa-Levy, Program Director, NCCJ
Douglas Garland, M.D., Memorial Orthopedic
Rev. Mike Gillette, First United Methodist
Brian Gimmillaro, Women’s Volleyball Coach, CSULB
Erin Gruwell, Professor, CSULB
Phil Hester, Director, Parks, Recreation and Marine
Karen Hilburn, Director, Student Support, LBUSD
David Hillman, Coordinator, Role of Men
John Hoffman, Sr. Psychologist, LBUSD
Chan Hopson, Khmer Parent Association
Elijah Kemp-Bowdre, Commission on Youth and Children
Robert Luna, Deputy Chief, LBPD
Jade Marcos, Youth Leadership Long Beach
Dan Murphy, Asst. City Prosecutor
Don Norford, Track Coach, Long Beach Poly High
Diana Pinedo, LBPD Youth Advisory Group
Billy Quach, Commander, LBPD
Jessica Quintana, Executive Director, Centro CHA
Rosalind Rodriguez, Human Relations Commission
Mark Rothenberg, Esq., Commission on Youth and Children
Hillary Rivers, Victims Advocate
James Sauceda, Multicultural Center, CSULB
Rev. Gregory Sanders, The Rock Christian Fellowship
Dave San Jose, Peace 90800 Council
Dr. Judson Schoendorf, Member, Board of Health and Human Services
Autrilla Scott, Community Activist
Darick Simpson, Chair, Workforce Development Board Youth Council
Robin Sinks, Health Educator, Curriculum Leader, LBUSD
Melanie Washington, Executive Director, Mentoring A Touch From Above
Craig Watson, Charter Communications
Bill Wells, Million Moms March

Executive Committee

Beverly O’Neill, Mayor
Jerry Miller, City Manager
Randy Gordon, President, LB Chamber
Bob Maxson, President, CSULB
Chris Steinhauser, Supt., LBUSD
Him Chhim, Cambodian Assoc. of America
Tony Batts, Chief of Police
Garon Harden, Chair, Ministers Alliance
Rich Archbold, Press Telegram
Roberto Uranga, Board of Trustees, LBCC
Lydia Hollie, Educator, (Past HRC Chair)
Jan Kehoe, President, LBCC

Resource Team

Reggie Harrison, Deputy City Manager
Alvin Bernstein, Superintendent, Prevention and Intervention Services
Chris Burcham, Library Youth Services
Charles Clark, Security Director, L. B. Unified School District
Anitra Dempsey, Human Dignity Program Officer
Cynthia Fogg, Superintendent, Youth Services
Phil Hester, Director, Parks, Recreation and Marine
Karen Hilburn, Director, Student Support, L. B. Unified School District
Keith Kilmer, Commander, L. B. Police Department
Erroll Parker, Communication Services Supervisor
Bryan Rogers, Workforce Bureau Officer
Corrine Schneider, Manager, Human and Social Services
Dennis Thys, Manager, Neighborhood Services
Cecile Walters, Development Project Manager
Ray Worden, Manager, Workforce Development