WHO: Erie County Youth Services & Medaille College
WHAT: Youth Gang and Violence Prevention Day
WHEN: Monday, February 15th, from 10:00 a.m. - 3:00 p.m.
WHERE: Medaille College, 18 Agassiz Circle, Buffalo, NY 14214
Parking is available on campus
DETAILS:
Erie County Youth Services has partnered with Medaille College to host the first phase of a "Youth Gang and Violence Prevention Program" at Medaille College on February 15th. The vision for this program is a youth led, youth driven initiative, and is aimed at informing the youth of Erie County the dangers of area gangs, the tactics they use to recruit new members, and the healthy initiatives one can take to avoid falling into the pit of gang culture.
More than 150 young people, representing 65 county funded agencies, are registered to attend this seminar. Headlining the day will be two speakers who specialize in gang violence and youth empowerment. Moses Robinson (President of the Western New York Chapter of the East Coast Gang Investigator's Association, and member of the Rochester Police Department) and Modie Cox (founder of "Winning Because I Tried") will work with participants to identify problems and solutions faced by youth in their communities as it relates to gangs and violence. At the end of the training sessions, interested youth applicants will complete a short survey indicating issues they feel they are faced with in reference to gang violence in their communities and/or their interest in becoming a leader in a youth developed and youth led program to follow. Medaille College is graciously hosting the event, and providing lunch and campus tours to participants as well.
The Erie County Youth Bureau annually grants more than $2 million dollars to positive youth development programs, special delinquency prevention programs, runaway/homeless youth agencies, Municipal Youth Bureau's, and towns and villages throughout Erie County. Erie County funded agency programs are all monitored through unannounced site visits, and agencies are currently in the process of implementing Results Based Accountability to ensure positive outcomes and data for youth participants. The Youth Bureau is advised by a 21 member volunteer board. The Youth Gang and Violence Prevention Day is an initiative of board members Tony Williams (Director of Operations, Northwest Buffalo Community Center) and Sean Lora-Hetzner (Agency Beneficiary, United Way of Buffalo and Erie County), and Youth Bureau employees Mark Gawronski, Nadia Moore, and David Rust.
With campuses in Buffalo, Amherst and Rochester, Medaille College is a dynamic, private college committed to serving the higher education needs of Western New York. Medaille is known for its flexible delivery systems, offering master's, bachelor's and associate degrees through day, evening and weekend programs.
For more details on the Youth Gang and Violence Prevention Day, please contact David Rust, Director, Erie County Youth Bureau at:
810 East Ferry Street
Buffalo, NY 14211
923-4041
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