A Holistic Approach to Violence Prevention through a Community Based, Multi-Agency Collaborative

A Holistic Approach to Violence Prevention through a

Community Based, Multi-Agency Collaborative

Spirit of Safety Lighthouse Conference

Violence Intervention and Prevention Institute

Jackson State University, MS

Presented By:

Lydia A. Hollie, JD, MAED, Co-Chair

City of Long Beach Weed & Seed Steering

Committee

November 12, 2009

1 Lydia A. Hollie, JD/MAED: A Holistic Approach_Community-Based Multi-Agency Collaborative_November 12, 2009

A Holistic Approach

to Violence Prevention through a Community Based, Multi-Agency

Collaborative

2

Lydia A. Hollie, JD/MAED: A Holistic

Approach_Community-Based Multi-Agency

Collaborative_November 12, 2009

Vision is the Foundation

of Positive Change

“Where there is no vision, the people are unrestrained,”

- Proverbs 29:18 NASB

An older translation of this axiom is more direct, “Where

there is no vision, the people perish.”

"Record the vision and inscribe it on the tablets, that

one who reads it may run. For the vision is yet for the

appointed time; It hastens toward the goal and it will

not fail. Though it tarries, wait for it; For it will certainly

come, it will not delay.” Habakkuk 2:2-3 NASB

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City of Long Beach

Human Relations Commission

Motto:

“Working Together to Serve”

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“Diversity is Our Strength”

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An Interim Report and

Re-examination of the Problem of

Youth and Gang Violence in the

City of Long Beach

On November 4, 2003, the City of Long Beach Human Relations Commission (HRC) presented an Interim Report and Re-examination of the Problems of Youth and Gang Violence in the City of Long Beach.

The report reflected the impacts that youth violence has on the quality of life for youth and human relations in the city.

The report was approved by the community leadership, the Long Beach Police Department, unanimously adopted by the City Council, and implemented.

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Youth and Gang Violence in the City of Long

Beach

Key Findings

Approximately 40% of the city's population is comprised of

children and youth,

Whether you were a combatant or not, any citizen had a

50% chance of being a victim of gang violence,

To Stay Alive is No. 1 goal of youth (From Wilson High

Eleventh grade student at the November 11, 2002 Public

Forum).

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City of Long Beach

Key Findings

• 67 homicides—31 gang-related, inclusive of 15 gang

motivated homicides (2002),

• Long Beach median income: $40,000 (2002),

• 77,000 families incomes below $35,000 (2002),

• 14,400 families incomes below $19,000(2002)

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City of Long Beach

Summary of Recommendations

• Convene a Citywide Intervention Task Force to develop

a 3-year strategic plan to produce measurable and

sustainable outcomes.

• Utilize existing City service contracts with NCCJ to

facilitate the Citywide Intervention Task Force.

• Implement the Youth Commission and Youth Advisory

Council.

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Youth and Gang Violence in the City of Long

Beach


• Utilize the Human Dignity Program's Hate Crimes

Response Team and Intergroup Conflict Resolution

Team to mediate gang-related disputes.

• Train selected Gang Intervention Prevention Program

staff as mediators to assist the Human Dignity Program's

Response/Resolution Teams, as appropriate.

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City of Long Beach


• Develop a public awareness campaign that promotes

integrity, responsibility, accountability, and respect,

successful models in other communities.

• Allow the HRC to research funding sources.

• Strengthen relations with ethnic community based

organizations.

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Long Beach Youth and Gang

Violence Prevention Task Force

Motto:

“Reducing Violence, Saving Lives”

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Vision Statement

We envision a community where youth are highly valued, well educated, skilled for the 21st century workplace, healthy, law abiding, and contributing members of society who respect the rights of others and themselves.

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Mission Statement

We are committed to eradicating violence among

youth and young adults by networking resources,

promoting public awareness and educating youth

and young adults on their value to the

preservation of our human race, thereby saving

lives.

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Purpose

• In January 2004, the Task Force was established

to inform, consult and collaborate with the city

and other key community partners to identify

preventive measures, responses, and strategies

related to issues of youth violence and gang

activity.

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Duties

• The specific duties included needs assessment

of at-risk youth and program evaluation,

performance review of relevant programs and

services, increasing public awareness of

available resources, and reporting the outcomes

to the City Council for action as appropriate.

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Task Force Structure & Composition

*The Long Beach Youth and Gang Violence Prevention Task

Force was a 40-member group charged with pursuing

solutions to wide-ranging issues that significantly affect

the quality of life for our youth.

*It represented every major leadership sector of the community and it reflected the demographic diversity of the community.

*Task Force members were selected specifically for their expertise and interest in youth as well as youth violence prevention and intervention.

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Task Force Structural Elements

*The structural framework of the citywide Task Force included two other elements, which strengthened its capacity to be effective:

*Executive Committee: Represented the highest leadership of the city to reflect the diverse interests impacted by youth violence, provides oversight of the implementation process, as well as direct support for resource allocation.

*Resource Team: City and Long Beach Unified School District staff was responsible for providing staff support, reviewing the City’s current youth-serving policies and programs, identifying programs by goals and targeted population and activities, and benchmarking programs from other cities.

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Subcommittee Structure

• Early Childhood Education and Parenting

• Workforce Development and Reentry

• Youth Engagement and Violence Prevention

• Media and Community Education

• Research and Resource Development

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Community Awareness Initiatives

• The co-produced of two “Enough is Enough” telecasts.

• The organized and endorsed youth/police dialogues.

• Supported conflict resolution workshops citywide.

• The development and delivery of numerous education

forums on such valuable topics as parenting, family

leadership, conflict resolution, educational & career paths for

teens, expungement for adults and youth petitions, and

mental health for children.

• Supported Vigils for Peace to decrease gun violence.

• Supported neighborhood clean-ups.

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Key Accomplishments

• Supported community engagement through building an on-going

support structure that connects residents, businesses,

community-based organizations, educational institutions, the faith

community, and City government in successful collaborative

partnerships.

• Stronger community, police and municipal relationships, which

have resulted in many opportunities,

• Successfully accomplished grant acquisitions of both the

Department of Justice Weed and Seed ($1 million) Community

Assistance Grant and the CalGRIP Grant ($400,000).

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Key Accomplishments

*Completed citywide criminal activity analysis and identified Police Beats 4, 5 and 7 as the initial point of focus.

*LBPD and Department of Parks Recreations and

Marine worked together collaboratively to place Mobile Rec. sites within the targeted area.

*Held Focus Groups (youth & adult) in target area to

gain in-depth knowledge of community needs and advice from the residents.

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Key Accomplishments

*Endorsed the 64-Day Season for Nonviolence and focused on a “Weekend of Forgiveness.”

*Delivered First Summer Police/Youth Dialogue at Martin Luther King, Jr. Park.

*Developed Website (www.savinglives.longbeach.gov) and Logo.

*Collaborated with city agencies, faith based and community based organizations, and the business and education sectors to develop comprehensive Anti-Gang Initiatives citywide.

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Recognition of Efforts

*City of Long Beach Working Together to Serve Management Conference Award in the category of Best Effort to keep Long Beach safe.

*City of Long Beach Human Dignity Program Award, shared with Charter Communications, Press Telegram, and Leadership Long Beach.

*100 Best Cities for Youth Award, Pacific Region.

*Association of Criminal Justice Research Presentation,

64th Semi-Annual Meeting, Long Beach Conference.

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Recognition of Efforts

• California State Assembly

• California State Senate

• Los Angeles County Board of Supervisors

• Long Beach City Council

• The California Conference for Equality and Justice

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Transition into Long Beach

GRIP Advisory Council

After five years of committed advocacy, and building

community capacity and empowerment to engage

community action to effectively address youth

violence prevention and intervention, the Task Force

moved into a new phase of civic involvement and

evolved into the Long Beach Gang Reduction,

Intervention and Prevention Advisory Council

(LB GRIP Advisory Council) in March 2009.

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City of Long Beach

Weed and Seed Strategy

Motto:

“Establishing Model Communities,

One Neighborhood at a Time”

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City of Long Beach


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City of Long Beach


• The Long Beach Weed & Seed Program is a strategy that aims to

prevent, control, and reduce violent crime, substance abuse, and

gang activity in Central Long Beach, CA.

• This Program is a community-based, comprehensive, multi-

agency approach to law enforcement, crime prevention, and

neighborhood restoration in Police Beats 4 and 5.

• This Program operates out of two Safe Havens at Martin Luther

King, Jr. Park and Ernest McBride Park as safe places for youth

and families to access community resources.

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City of Long Beach


Key Target Area Demographics

• Population: 46,000

• Median Household Income: $21,000 annually

• 52% subsist on $15,000 annually

• 950 surveys conducted English, Khmer, and Spanish of target

area residents informed:

– Top 5 Pressing Issues

– Top 5 Community Services Needed

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City of Long Beach


Top Five Pressing Issues in the Target Area

Affordable Housing

Graffiti

Gang Violence

Drugs

Drug Dealing

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City of Long Beach


Top Five Services Needed in the Target Area

After School Programs

Adult Employment

Affordable Health Care

Sports/Recreation Programs

Youth Employment

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City of Long Beach


Foundation

• Law Enforcement Strategy

• Community Policing Strategy

• Prevention/Intervention/Treatment Strategy

• Comprehensive Reentry Strategy

• Neighborhood Restoration Strategy

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City of Long Beach



• Family Engagement and Violence Prevention

• Reentry and Workforce Development

• Neighborhood Restoration

• Law Enforcement and Community Policing

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City of Long Beach


Key Accomplishments & Recognitions

• Three Safe Havens (King Park, McBride Park,

and most recently, McArthur Park).

• Monthly Community Calendar.

• King Park Make-Over Funded by The Home Deport.

• Kindergarten Festival Kickoff Family Resource Fair.

• Community-Wide Expungement/Sealing Education

Forum and Workshop.

• Community Forum on Parent Empowerment.

• Conflict Resolution Workshop for Youth.

• Washington Neighborhood Street & Alley Clean-up.

• 3-Day Summer Youth and Police Dialogues. 39




City of Long Beach



• Cinco de Mayo with Pride Celebration (nearly 1000 attendees at McBride Park).

• Easter Egg Hunt Festivities (nearly 600 attendees at McBride Park).

• Central Long Beach and Mombasa, Kenya Town Hall

• Co-Sponsored First Annual Dee Andrews 6th District Track & Field Meet.

• Sponsor of New Generation Soccer Team.

• Sponsored 2008 and 2009 WOW Jam Community Resource Fair.

• Parent Empowerment Workshops and Parent Mentor Group.

• Sponsored 6th District Youth Talent Show.

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City of Long Beach



• Community Education Monthly Series, “Insider Tips on Law and Justice.”

• Youth Leadership Development Program.

• PeaceBuilders for Young Children Conflict Resolution Workshops.

• Co-Sponsored 6th District Youth Empowerment Forum.

• King Park Community Survey.

• Comprehensive Re-Entry Resource Guide.

• Washington Neighborhood Health & Safety Family Day.

• Certificate of Recognition, Councilman Dee Andrews, Sixth District, Long Beach City Council.

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City of Long Beach


Target Area Police Beats 4 and 5

Homicide Statistics:

Year Total Year Total

2004 7 2007 11

2005 13 2008 11

2006 9 2009 4

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Community Policing

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Youth Leaders at Neighborhood Forum

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Neighborhood Clean-Up

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Kindergarten Festival

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L.B.P.D. Community Relations

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WOW Jam - A Faith Based Collaborative

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Town Hall with Mombasa, Kenya

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City of Long Beach


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Long Beach GRIP Advisory Council

Motto:

“Reducing Violence, Saving Lives”

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Vision Statement

We envision a community where youth are highly valued, well educated, skilled for the 21st century workplace, healthy, law abiding, and contributing members of society who respect the rights of others and themselves.

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Mission

The Long Beach GRIP Project will create a

collaboration of educational, prevention, and

intervention based programs as well as related

support systems to provide essential education,

career, social, and life skills development training

and services for at-risk youth and adults in the

target area.

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Purpose

To oversee the recently awarded state-funded

CalGRIP grant, which is to address youth and

gang violence prevention and youth

development.

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~Community Members

~City Officials

~County Sheriff

~Probation

~District Attorney

~Local Law Enforcement

~LB Unified School District

~County Office of Education

~Educational Agencies

~Community and Faith-

Based Organizations

~Businesses

~City Staff

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• Family Engagement and Violence Prevention

• Reentry and Workforce Development

• Media and Community Education

• Research and Resource Development

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• Refer

Underserved youth and young adults to positive

alternatives to gang participation in a safe

environment

• Promote

Community awareness and education

through anti-gang messages

• Enhance

Coordination of existing efforts and resources

related to youth and gang violence prevention

as well as family and community 57





Partners

• City of Long Beach Human Dignity Program

• City of Long Beach Neighborhood Services Bureau

• PeaceBuilders of PeacePartners, Inc.

• The California Conference for Equity and Justice

• Pacific Gateway Workforce Investment Network

• Long Beach Police Department

• Long Beach City College

• Long Beach Unified District

• Long Beach Weed and Seed Program

• The Target Area Families, Youth, and Community

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Long Beach USD Male Academy

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“It's My Future”: Anti-Violence Conference

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Peace Rally

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Wrigley Community Garden

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Peace Mural

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Parting Thoughts

I strongly believe that a community's peace and

prosperity is inextricably linked to the strength of its

families. The nucleus of a community is a devoted family

wherein parents are responsible and accountable for

their households, and each child is unconditionally

loved, well nourished, and protected from harm to the

best of the parents' ability. The children represent the

heart of the family.

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Parting Thoughts

The family is surrounded by five oscillating rings to

sustain its stability. These rings represent the

neighborhood, faith, education, business, and civic

sectors. Each of these sectors should work in concert to

supplement the family's efforts to rear children to become

stakeholders who are productive members of the

community. These sectors should be strong enough to

prevent pathogens from entering and destroying the

family.

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Parting Thoughts

Yet, these sectors should be flexible enough to

collaborate and take the necessary steps, without undue

delay, on the best way to eradicate those factors or

pathogens that contribute to the family's demise. These

rings exist to protect the family, and therefore, establish a

life of quality for the entire community environment.

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Parting Thoughts

The well being of families determines whether children

fail or succeed, and whether a community declines or

prospers.

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Thank you

A Holistic Approach to Violence Prevention through a Community Based, Multi-Agency

Collaborative

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References

1. An Interim Report on the Problem of Youth and Gang Violence in the City of Long Beach, City of Long Beach Human Relations Commission, Long Beach, CA (2003). 2. California Gang Reduction, Intervention, and Prevention Grant, Office of the Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger, Sacramento, CA (2008). 3. New American Standard Bible (2009), Retrieved on November 1, 2009, from Website: www.bible.com. 4. Weed and Seed Community Assistance Grant, Community Capacity Development Office, U.S. Department of Justice, Washington, D.C. (2007).

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Contact Information

Lydia A. Hollie, JD, MAED

Co-Chair, Long Beach Weed and Seed

Steering Committee

Email: [email protected]

Long Beach Weed and Seed Program

1133 Rhea Street

Long Beach, CA 90806

Office: 562.570.4400

http://weedandseed.longbeach.gov

For More Information Contact:

Long Beach GRIP Project

www.savinglives.longbeach.gov

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A Holistic Approach to Violence Prevention through a Community Based, Multi-Agency Collaborative

Education

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