FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
February 11, 2005
Contact:  Judy Rambeau, Assistant to the City Manager, Santa Monica
               310-458-8301
               Laurie Newman, Office of State Senator Sheila Kuehl
               310-441-9084

The City of Santa Monica and State Senator Sheila Kuehl are cohosting a Community Workshop on Gang Violence on February 26, from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. at John Adams Middle School, 2425 16th St., in Santa Monica.  Two hundred members of the public and invited partners are expected to attend.

The event is the first step in a focused community effort to reduce gang activity in Santa Monica, with particular focus on the Pico neighborhood.  The workshop will allow stakeholders—youth, parents, clergy, neighbors, educators, youth workers, organizations—to come together to seek common ground and hear experts from the trenches reflect on proposed strategies for the community.

“Every individual and partner agency involved in this work must feel a personal sense of responsibility if we are to succeed locally and regionally to keep our youth out of gangs and our neighborhoods safe,” said Santa Monica Mayor Pam O’Connor.  “We look for a good turnout on February 26 and sustained commitments from our partners.”

"Gang violence has touched all of our lives either directly or indirectly,” said Sen. Kuehl, who will facilitate the experts’ discussion of community strategies brainstormed by workshop participants.  “To be successful in stemming the violence, we must forge true community solutions.”

Confirmed panelists include gang expert Blinky Rodriguez, educator Bill Martinez, behavioral scientist John McDonald, youth violence prevention expert Leah Aldridge and former State Senator Tom Hayden, author of Street Wars and the Future of Violence.

Breakfast and lunch, child care (age 5 and up), Spanish translation and free parking will be provided.

A second workshop, set for the morning of March 12 at the same location, will follow, to shape a community action plan.  For more information, call 310-458-8301 or visit StopGangViolence.SMgov.net.  To register on-line for the February 26 workshop, click here.

This page was last updated on 05/29/08.