Our 2014 conference will focus on addressing the root causes of gang violence, including the multiple environmental impacts and social determinants that push young people into gang involvement.

Break Out Session Topics & Descriptions

• Parenting for Peace: This workshop will provide an introduction to Infant Mental Health and Early Childhood Trauma. 

• Drugs, Gangs and Mass Incarceration: Would placing the control of drug sales in the hands of government officials make a difference?

• Engaging in Arts: This session will provide proven solutions for intervening and preventing youth violence through the arts. 

• Community Collaboration-Building Public/Private Networks: The presentation will focus on Community relationships that create networks in an effort to combat gang influence and violence. 

• Training Law Enforcement & School Safety Personnel: We will unveil a unique partnership that trains law enforcement & school personnel on alternatives to over-punitive discipline policies. 

• Re-thinking Masculinity: Preventing Violence: Research shows that the majority of violence is perpetrated males. Join us in examining the underlying culture of violent masculinity. 

• Exploring Youth Value through Hip Hop: Many youth are not given the luxury of empathy, Hip Hop may be our last hope to reach them.

• Collaboration Multiplier: Presenters will introduce the tool, share examples and facilitate a discussion on how it can be used to strengthen prevention efforts. 

• Building a Sustainable Employment Model for Gang Involved Youth: Taller San Jose will share valuable lessons on developing a program, funding and partnerships needed to help disconnected youth excel in a career. 

• Stories of Strength-Child Sexual Abuse Histories & Gang Affiliation: This workshop will review the impact of child sexual abuse on gang affiliation.

• The Impact of Guns & Gun Policies on Fueling Gang Violence: An exploration of current gun laws and how money and advocacy is shaping our relationships to guns. 

• Internet Banging-New Trends in Social Media & Gang Violence: Media outlets nationally have reported on a new phenomenon of gang affiliates using social media sites to trade insults & make violent threats that often lead to victimization or homicide. 

• Federal Efforts & Opportunities-The 13 City Model: This session will explore the core elements of a promising citywide violence prevention plan, anchored in the experiences of several cities. 

• Girls and Gangs-Women lead the Way Out: This session will explore programs aimed at women involved in gangs and solutions to reintegration piloted for women that have gone on to be models. 

• Why Kids Join Gangs?: This session will dive deep into profiles of youth that cause gang violence, the exploration of identity, behavior, therapy and community in thier rehabilitation. 

• The Impact of Gang Injunctions: Beneath the surface, injunctions may lead to youth expectaions of harrassment by law enforcement, strengthening of gang affiliations and interruption of service provision within communities. 

• Crime News, Stereotyping & the Cradle to Prison Pipeline: We will examine which coverage patterns drive public understanding of safety, the causes and solutions for violence.  

• Well Being Important for Everyone: Missouri Division of Youth Services collaboration, this workshop introduces DYS's trauma informed work with gang involved youth and FFI's Five Domains of Wellbeing. 

• More will be added soon......

 

Conference Advisory Committee

• A Better L.A.
• Anti-Recidivism Coalition
• Brotherhood Crusade
• California Alliance for Community & Youth Justice
• Children’s Hospital Los Angeles
• H.E.L.P.E.R. Foundation
• Homeboy Industries
• L.A. County Department of Children and Family Services
• L.A. County Department of Public Health
• L.A. County Human Relations Commission
• Peace Over Violence
• Southern California Crossroads
• St. Francis Medical Center