Youth summit has anti-gang message

Raleigh, N.C. — Raleigh leaders got together Sunday evening to talk about young people and gang violence.

In recent weeks, a melee at Raleigh's Triangle Town Center mall and a shooting on the campus of North Carolina State University, have highlighted the Capital City's growing gang problem, which Raleigh Police Chief Harry Dolan described as "significant."

"Anytime we fail a young person, then we ourselves have failed and I don't like to be a failure,” school board Chairwoman Rosa Gill said.

Gill says the increased gang activity is just one of the issues being addressed at Sunday's Youth Empowerment Summit (YES) at Southeast Raleigh Magnet High School, 2600 Rock Quarry Road.

Organizers say they want teenagers to say "YES" to to graduating on time, sexual abstinence and staying drug-free and gang-free.

“The overall goal of this program is to help our children understand the importance of being successful and being very active in school, because if they are active in school – they will be successful,” Gill said.

The summit is being hosted by Russ Parr of the "Russ Parr Morning Show" and Radio One. YES wraps up Monday with a back to school rally at Dorton Arena.

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Unfortunately the young people who attend these gatherings are probably the ones NOT at risk and who need to hear the message! I think that gang activity is a direct result of the breakdown of the family and the lack of accountability demanded by society. TheAdmiral says it all in his comment above. We (society) need to ACT on our beliefs rather than just continue to spout words!

hedgy_one
August 11, 2008 12:17 p.m.

I can tell you that all of the National Crime Prevention groups will tell you that if kids are in Boy Scouts, Girl Scouts, 4-H, Boys and Girls Clubs, etc that they are less likely to be in a gang.

I have three former gang members (14 year olds plus) who thought they could be thugs - then they found out that the old man has a bigger staf.

The public needs to stop whining about one item that they don't agree with when it comes to these organizations and demand of the school systems to let them into the schools to promote the good that they do.

So far, what I have seen is the school communities kick them out and all of a sudden, invited the gangs in.