City Gang Task Force Plan Goes into Action
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School is out and the Mayor’s Gang Prevention Task Force is gearing up for the summer. Thousands of dollars in grant money have been dished out for the program that provides continued education for at- risk youth ages 12 through 14 and jobs for students 15-18 years old. Officials said they hope the program will keep students out of trouble this summer. “(It) gives the parents peace of mind that their youngsters are some where and being productive for the summer. So its a win-win I see, not only for the community but the parent as well as the employer,” said Chairman for the Mayor’s Gang Prevention Task Force Vicky Lake. Statistics showed violent and property crimes along with drug offenses have steadily decreased for students between the ages of 15 and 17, but they have increased for students 12 to 14 years old. “Kids don’t have anything to do. They need some activity,” said Lake. “They will spend a week in the classroom learning about soft skills, how to dress, how to be on time, then they will be assigned to an employer.” Organizers said students participating have had a run-in with the law. They hope the experience of either working or taking extra classes dealing with conflict resolve will be an eye-opening one. “(It’s) so important to see that even though they may have been in trouble and gone down a wrong path, there is a way out. The way out is between education and employment,” said Lake.
