The third OJJDP National Youth Gang Symposium—Together We Can: Comprehensive Approaches to Youth Gangs—was held June 11�13, 2002, in Orlando, FL. The event offered an array of activities and information focusing on innovative and viable gang-related programs and strategies.

Designed for anyone involved in addressing the Nation's youth gang and violence problem, the symposium drew a diverse crowd of more than 1,200. Attendees included law enforcement and corrections professionals who work with gang members on a daily basis, community-based youth outreach workers, social service and education professionals, and representatives from the faith-based community. The keynote speaker was Father Greg Boyle, Executive Director of Homeboy Industries, Los Angeles, CA, which provides job opportunities and support for young gang members.

At the opening ceremony, OJJDP Administrator J. Robert Flores welcomed symposium participants and reported that "the Bush Administration is very serious about working with State, local, and tribal authorities . . . to address youth gangs in this Nation." Mr. Flores described a number of OJJDP gang prevention programs and shared two success stories of youth who have benefited from Project Bridge, Riverside, CA, which was one of the first five sites funded to implement OJJDP's Comprehensive Community-Wide Approach to Gang Prevention, Intervention, and Suppression (the Comprehensive Gang Model).

Drawing on the symposium's theme of "Together We Can," Mr. Flores challenged each symposium participant to meet with three individuals, agencies, or organizations; explain why they should be concerned about youth gangs; and suggest ways to bring positive change to the gang problem in their communities. Mr. Flores encouraged participants to share information gathered at the symposium with their communities. "You may find out," Mr. Flores added, "that these partners can lend assistance in ways that you never thought of."

Following Mr. Flores's remarks, U.S. Attorney General John Ashcroft welcomed attendees via video message. Mr. Ashcroft commended symposium participants for their "commitment to combating the destructive culture of youth gangs."

During the symposium, attendees participated in plenary sessions led by national experts and attended workshops that highlighted recent gang trends and offered information on programs to combat gang problems. Workshop topics ranged from "Prison Gangs and Their Influence on the Street" to "Faith-Based Approaches to Gangs."

Between workshops and plenary sessions, attendees gathered additional information from more than 20 exhibition booths representing a variety of organizations. Exhibitors included the Boys & Girls Clubs of America, Gang Resistance Education and Training (G.R.E.A.T), the National Drug Intelligence Center, the National Youth Gang Center, and the National Youth Violence Prevention Resource Center.

For Further Information

To learn more about youth gangs and gang prevention, visit the National Youth Gang Center Web site at www.iir.com/nygc.