While some communities seem to have a greater problem in dealing with the problem of the presence of gang members and crime related to gangs, in Nassau County, the problem is a fact of life.

In January, the Public Safety Committee of the Nassau County Legislature held a public hearing on the existence of gangs in Nassau County. One notion brought up in the hearing is that gangs, which are defined as three or more individuals gathered together for illicit or criminal purposes, are a reality in many of Nassau's communities and that recruitment of additional gang members takes place wherever there is a troubled youth who is looking for some sense of belonging.

While Mineola may not have the prevalence of gangs that communities such as Hempstead, Uniondale and Roosevelt have, Nassau County Police 3rd Precinct Inspector Vincent Muscanera has acknowledged that the presence of gang members such as those belonging to the MS-13 exist in Mineola.

Third Precinct problem oriented policing officer Harry Reddan, who is primarily assigned to Mineola, says the problem of gangs is pretty much under control in Mineola and that the police have a firm grip on the problem except for a few isolated incidents.

However, while police enforcement may curb some gang activity, perhaps the best way is cutting the problem off at the source with preventative means. Education may be an effective way to fight the threat of gangs. By educating a community's youth population on the seriousness of gang activity and the consequences of becoming involved with a gang, there may be less of a chance a child may choose to go the route of violence.

One organization that has made it a priority to educate the community's youth and the dangers of a life of crime and violence is Mineola Youth and Family Services, a not-for-profit organization with a mission to keep the youth off the streets by providing structured activities that are safe and fun.

One aspect of Mineola Youth and Family Services is an after-school program, consisting of activities that are designed to promote social interaction among the youth and to strengthen their creative and intellectual skills.

Mineola Youth and Family Services, together with Mineola High School, brought a gang prevention presentation to the organization's after-school program, which consisted of about 30 children in elementary and middle school.

The program, made possible through a Best Buy Community Service Grant, which came as a result of a combined effort between Best Buy and United Way of America, involves high school students educating younger students who are members of Mineola Youth's after-school program.

On a Friday afternoon, Mineola High School teacher Maureen Connolly and ninth grade students Stephanie Ferreira, Nuno DaSilva and John Ventura visited village hall where the after-school program takes place on Fridays.

The students made a presentation concerning gang awareness, making sure the younger children learned of the consequences of joining a gang. The Mineola High School students then encouraged interaction by asking questions to the younger children.

"There's so many issues with gangs nowadays that the kids decided they would do a project related to gang awareness," said Mineola Youth and Family Services Executive Director Suzanne Skaflestad.

The program was supervised by Mineola Youth and Family Services Assistant Director Ed Paley and some of its counselors as well as Miss Connolly, who spoke to the children about the dangers of joining the gang. Assisting with the preparation of the presentation were high school students Liz Pita and Alan Archibald.

At the end of the program Miss Connolly asked each of the children in the program to write a letter about why it's a bad idea to join a gang. Miss Connolly then told the children that when they enter high school, she would give them the letter as a reminder.

The program concluded with each of the children in Mineola Youth's after-school program receiving a T-shirt that stated, "Together in One World ... Stay Together and Live Forever."