Thursday, September 24^th

Ceasefire & David Kennedy

David Kennedy's obsession with drug dealers has made him a highly sought–after criminologist.

The image of a drug dealer driving a Mercedes is a Hollywood favorite, so maybe it's not surprising that the African–American preacher, speaking on a panel about how to shut down urban drug markets, went for the cliché. It's hard to get the dealers off the corners and into straight jobs, said the preacher, since selling drugs pays so well. A voice piped up. "This is not true," said David Kennedy. "They're scraping by, living at home." Kennedy offered advice: when confronting dealers who say they're getting rich, tell them, "I'm calling bulls***." Read More

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DYS Officials Lead Presentation & Discussion on Ceasefire Model

Mallery Johnson, Richard Morris and David Lah introduced and lead the discussion on the Ceasefire Model in a September 23, 2009 telephone call with Coaches and Grantees involved in the School District Generation I initiative that focuses on gang prevention and intervention in the cities of Baltimore, Chicago, Milwaukee, Orlando and Philadelphia. Also participating was M. H. West & Co., Inc., the initiative's TA provider. Use these resources for additional details about the cease fire model:

Ceasefire Basic Steps to Implementation Presentation

Operation Ceasefire – Boston, MA

How the High Point Intervention Works

Cincinnati Initiative to Reduce Crime

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Hundreds Turn Out for Anti-Gang Walk-a-Thon

Funds raised will help provide training books for parents

The Southern Nevada Community Gang Task Force held a walk–a–thon Saturday morning to raise funds for its gang prevention efforts throughout the Las Vegas Valley.

About 200 people attended the event at the Clark County Government Center Amphitheater. Each participant donated $10 and before taking on a one–mile course around the amphitheater.

The task force, which is made up of 14 law enforcement agencies and more than 120 community organizations, is completely funded through donations rather than through the county or participating agencies. Read More

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Keeping at–Risk Kids Out of Jail –– It's an Art

'Tough on crime' gang injunctions just funnel teens into jail. But one former gang member knows firsthand how a little care and attention can make a true difference.

Forty years ago, I was a gang member and a tagger, an aerosol graffiti artist. No doubt this was vandalism –– my canvases were the walls of businesses, homes, schools, any public place.

I was just the sort of kid City Atty. Carmen Trutanich is targeting with his proposed civil injunction against taggers, a court order that would allow taggers to be arrested for merely hanging out together, an act that for most of us would be legal.
Read More

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Common Core State Standards Available for Comment

The National Governors Association Center for Best Practices (NGA Center) and the Council of Chief State School Officers (CCSSO) released the first official public draft of the college– and career–readiness standards in English–language arts and mathematics as part of the Common Core State Standards Initiative, a process being led by governors and chief state school officers in 51 states and territories. These standards define the knowledge and skills students should have to succeed in entry–level, credit–bearing, academic college courses and in workforce training programs.

The NGA Center and CCSSO are encouraging those interested in the standards to provide feedback, which must be supported by research and evidence, by October 21 at www.corestandards.org.

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