Wendell News Outlet

Eastern Wake County Gang Prevention Forum May 17 in Knightdale

People living in Eastern Wake County will have an opportunity next week to discuss and develop community solutions to gang problems. The Gang Prevention Community Forum on Thursday, May 17, 2007, is the second of two forums designed to prevent the growth of gang activity in Eastern Wake County. The forum will be from 6:30 to 9 p.m. at the Faith Baptist Church at 2728 Marks Creek Road, between Wendell and Knightdale.

Juvenile crime and gang-related activity emerged as one of the top four priorities in the 2006 Wake County Community Assessment.

"This is an issue that affects every citizen in our community," said Gibbie Harris, director of Community Health for Wake County. "If we are truly interested in a gang-free community, we all need to be willing to take action in our communities to support the children residing in Wake County."

Next Thursday's forum is the second of two forums sponsored by the Wake County Gang Prevention Partnership, along with 17 organizations and the police departments in Zebulon, Knightdale and Wendell. At the first forum on April 19, community members learned about gang activity in the area. Law enforcement officials and representatives of youth organizations also answered questions about gangs and ways to engage youth in more meaningful activities.

The mission of the Wake County Gang Prevention Partnership is to prevent youth gang activity and violence in Wake County through community mobilization, opportunities provision, social intervention, gang suppression, and organizational change and development.

For more information about the Eastern Wake County Gang Prevention Community Forum, contact Andrew Meyer with Wake County 4-H Youth Development at 919-250-3977 or ameyer@co.wake.nc.us or visit www.wakegov.com/humanservices