The City of Auburn, Auburn Police Department, Auburn School District and other local youth organizations have teamed up for a third year to host Speak Up and Get Involved III – a community forum on juvenile issues and gang prevention strategies.
The free forum is a program to allow parents, teens and community members to discuss gangs, juvenile issues, graffiti and similar issues.
The gathering is scheduled for 5:30-8 p.m. Thursday at the Messiah Lutheran Church Community Room, located at 410 H St. NE, Auburn. A free dinner will be provided courtesy of the Auburn Youth Council from 5:30-6 p.m.
Keynote speaker Lawrence Stone, from Tacoma’s Big Homie program, will address the issue of gang presence in and around South King and North Pierce County. Stone is a former gang member and drug dealer who uses his street knowledge to teach adult and teen audiences about how to unravel the appeal of youth gangs. Recognizing that gang association represents a complex set of problems, Stone and the Big Homie program promote cooperation among local government, schools, police and youth to seek long-term solutions.
“Auburn has a history of successfully handling the needs of children and youth in the community,” said Kip Herren, Superintendent of Auburn Schools. “The well-established and supportive partnerships between the School District, the City and various community organizations make it possible to proactively address these needs, creating a safer environment for young people and providing quality resources.”
During separate, small breakout sessions for youth and adults, staff from the city, school district and other community-based programs will be on hand to answer questions, provide information about gangs and youth violence, and listen to concerns from those in attendance.
Public service directories, a sheet of teen activities and other materials will be provided in various languages.
The Auburn School District will be providing Russian and Spanish translators and the Auburn Youth Council will conduct a drawing for prizes for those in attendance.
For more details about the forum, please call 253-931-3043 or visit www.auburnwa.gov.
