Street Gangs: A Solutions-Oriented Community Forum
Topics include the current state of gangs in S.B., gang representation in local news, the gang injunction debate, intervention, prosecution, and more. Forum led by J.P. Herrada, founder of Palabra, a nonprofit after school program for at-risk youth.
When: Saturday, May 21, 2011, 2:30 p.m. to 5 p.m.
Where: Vista del Monte, 3775 Modoc Rd., Santa Barbara
Cost: $2 - $5
Age limit: 10+
Categories: Citizen's Alert
Description:
Street Gangs: a solutions-oriented Community Forum, with JP Herrada of Palabra after-school programs. Topics covered may include:
- The current gang situation: growing, steady, or media-hyped?
- Why youths become involved in street gangs, and an insider's report on their activities.
- Intervention, education and alternatives to gang life?
- The effectiveness, fairness and constitutionality of the recent Gang Injunction?
- Breaking away from gang membership and into productive adulthood.
Juan Pablo "JP" Herrada was in and out of gang life from 12-18 years old, eventually generating an adult criminal record which impacted his ability to raise his own children. This motivated him to turn his life around, so along with his brother JC Herrada, they formed a nonprofit called Palabra. Now all the local High Schools and some Junior Highs have a Palabra program. The Herrada brothers meet with different at-risk groups in the Santa Barbara and Goleta communities twice a week, both at schools and outside them.
The program's curriculum has groups discussing different topics every week ranging from gang violence and drugs, to law enforcement and knowing your rights. The brothers also hold one-on-one talks with the kids, with whom he is upfront, explaining that he is a former Goleta gang member, "All I have to offer you is knowledge and a different way of thinking." He explains that he has seen how much a person can achieve if they leave a gang and, encourages kids to find an alternative to the gang lifestyle.
Presented by the Humanist Society of Santa Barbara:
* On Saturday, May 21st
* 2:30pm doors open with refreshments
* 3pm meeting starts
In the Patio Room at Vista del Monte, 3775 Modoc Road (Las Positas exit off 101, midway between UCSB & SBCC) in Santa Barbara.
Free admission - optional $2 student or $5 general donations would be appreciated. Information phone 805-689-2716 or website http://www.SantaBarbaraHumanists.org
Phone: 805-689-2716
Event posted May 3, 2011
Last updated May 3, 2011
Previous Month
Comments
Join us for dinner after the meeting: 5pm at the Ming Dynasty Chinese Restuarant, 290-G Storke Road (in the Kmart Center, near the Storke/Hollister intersection) in Goleta. Please send an e-mail to Activities@SantaBarbaraHumanists.org to reserve your seating.
green_helmet (anonymous profile)
May 15, 2011 at 3:50 p.m. (Suggest removal)