Residents Attend Meeting on Alternatives to Street Violence

Residents to Attend Meeting on Alternatives to Street Violence

By Andrea Morale

In the wake of last month's tragic death of a 14-year-old girl in New Cassel, in a drive-by shooting that may have been gang-related, residents of Westbury and other concerned community members are being urged to attend an upcoming meeting aimed at preventing street violence.

The meeting, themed, "Families and Alternatives to Violence Programs," will take place on Sept. 19 at the Tabernacle of Joy Church in Uniondale, announced Chester McGibbon, president of the Westbury Parent Teacher Association (PTA). According to McGibbon, the meeting is being organized and presented by the non-profit organization, Helping End Violence Now (HEVN). He urged Westbury residents to attend the meeting on this county-wide issue, in order to learn more about, and contribute to, efforts to prevent street gang violence. The effort, he noted, is for the protection of the community's children.

HEVN is headed by Reverend Milton Rochford of All Saints Temple Church of God in Christ. "Law Enforcement is not the only alternative in our battle against criminal street gangs," states an HEVN announcement requesting local residents to attend the meeting. "This informative presentation will provide you with other successful means to combat this negative element. By attending this meeting, you will learn how the Creation of block associations can be utilized to neutralize the gang and violence; and use of conflict resolution (by families and individuals) can serve as an effective alternative to violence, and as a means of community healing and rebuilding. All families will receive a community resource packet. Please join us and help us to help ourselves."

In the year 2000, there were 503 gang-related incidents in Nassau County, according to the Nassau County Police Department statistics, including all criminal and non-criminal activities of organized gangs. The number of such incidents, county-wide, is up from 416 in 1999 and 317 in 1998.

The Sept. 19 meeting will begin at 7:30 p.m. at the Tabernacle of Joy Church, located at 1070 Brookside Avenue, Uniondale. For further information, one may call the church at (516) 485-5660.