New program hopes to draw more kids away from gangs
Posted Aug 22, 2019 7:28 am.
This article is more than 5 years old.
CALGARY (660 NEWS) – Calgary police are hoping to reduce the number of kids caught up in the gang lifestyle, especially in the city’s northeast.
YouthLink is now offering free programs for gang prevention beginning Thursday.
Police Superintendent Cliff O’Brien said the community has to be part of the gang solution.
“Unfortunately in some of those cases where people refuse to cooperate with us and we did not get that community support, as investigators we would show up a year later, six months later that we would be doing a death notification to loved ones.”
Councillor George Chahal says gangs are a big issue for the entire community and not just police.
“I think people need to be aware of what’s going on in their community. We have to make sure parents are playing a role and being involved with their kids, but also knowing that this resource is here.”
YouthLink Executive Director Tara Robinson echoes that statement saying while officers respond and investigate shootings they wish the crime never happened in the first place.
“When we teach this gang curriculum education throughout the school year, we’ve had disclosures, we’ve had children who have gone through our exhibit and through with our facilitators at YouthLink. The lightbulb goes on and they recognize that those recruiting techniques are happening to them right now.”
Thankfully, many young people in the community are taking advantage of prevention programs like this.
Maya is a 12-year-old who attends some events at YouthLink. She said there’s a lot to learn from these kinds of initiatives.
“It’s just crazy how there (are) so many gangs out there. I didn’t know there was lots of people that would do that.”
The free presentations will be free of charge for kids 12 years and older.
You can find more information on the YouthLink website.
