3rd Annual Gang Symposium

3rd Annual Gang Symposium
Social Welfare and Gangs: From Laws and Policies to Best Practices
Become informed. Become Engaged. Become a Part of the Solution
WHEN: Wednesday, October 22nd 2008 6:00p.m.-9:00p.m.
WHERE: University of California at Los Angeles (UCLA), Moore Hall 100, Los Angeles, CA
WHO: Communities in Schools and Gamma Zeta Alpha Fraternity Inc. at UCLA.
Co-Sponsored by: the UCLA School of Public Affairs & Department of Social Welfare

WHAT & WHY: Social Welfare & Gangs: From Laws and Policies to Best Practices- a Panel discussion that will be moderated by Robert Arias, Communities in School’s Executive Director. The event will galvanize city officials, community leaders and members, educators, and students, who will gather together to explore the future of Los Angeles’ gang reduction strategies. It is important to understand that we cannot arrest our way out of the problem and that our approaches must be more balanced and more comprehensive. While this paradigm is in fact shifting, Los Angeles residents have a great deal of influence in deciding whether this shift is strengthened or weakened. On November 4th, 2008 voters in the city will be presented with voting ballots that contain two conflicting gang resolutions. Measure A is a local initiative that aims to raise $30 Million for gang prevention and intervention programs. Proposition 6 is a statewide bill that would increase state funding for prisons and enact more punitive gang laws. The purpose of this panel is to explore the various implications that these propositions have on practitioners, youth and other stakeholders. In doing so, our aim is to help our guests gain a comprehensive understanding of not only the nature of problem, but also the nature of the best solutions.

PANELISTS INCLUDE:
Dr. Jorja Leap, Gang Advisor Sheriff Lee Baca
Kim McGill, the Youth Justice Coalition
Blinky Rodriguez, Communities in Schools
Michael De La Rocha, Councilmember Tony Cardenas’s Office
Mario Rocha, Film: “Mario's Story”
Billie Weiss,So. Ca. Injury Prevention Research Center @ UCLA School of Public Health, and Acting Director VPC of Greater Los Angele
Mark Kleiman, UCLA School of Public Affairs
Aquil Basheer, Maximum Force Enterprises
Mohammad Kahn, Unity One
Shelan Joseph, LA County Public Defenders Office
Nelson Pichardo, Western Justice Foundation.

CONTACT:
Joseph Chicas, joseph.chicas@gmail.com (818) 433-5479 or,
Robert Hernandez, rohernandez4040@sbcglobal.net (818) 441-9742

*This event is not an official sponsorship of Measure A or Proposition 6.