Commission on Gang Prevention and Intervention Annual Report 2017

A Strategic Collaborative Approach to Impacting Gang Violence: The Community Focused Youth Empowerment Initiative Letter from the Commission Chair

The work of the Commission on Gang Prevention and Intervention is to develop a more strategic, coordinated and collaborative effort between the City, law enforcement agencies, social service providers and our communities. The objective is to prevent, intervene and divert our youth from gang involvement and its negative impact on society.

The goal of this Commission is to advance prevention efforts to increase safety and provide opportunities that will give hope to young people, and support the implementation of services for high need offenders. The actions and recommendations are grouped under three core strategies universally acknowledged as fundamental to impacting gang violence in Cultural Broker communities as seen in this annual report.

The work of many individuals and leaders representing San Diego’s public, private and Collaborative Justice community sectors cannot be thanked enough for their time and dedicated collaboration. Thank you to all the Commissioners who serve on the Commission and took time out of their Forgiveness Reconciliation busy schedules to attend the Commission’s meetings and retreats. This annual report shows Trauma-Informed that through strategic collaborations and partnerships, gang violence can be reduced and communities can thrive and prosper. Healing Diversion

Accountability Youth Advisory Dr. Rodney Hood Peace Promotion Community Courts Chair Compassion Repair Commission on Table of Contents: Gang Prevention and Intervention Commissioners 1

Work of the Commission 2 The City of San Diego would like to thank the following members for their service Executive Summary 5 on the Commission on Gang Prevention and Intervention and their contribution to this report: Strategic Action Plan 7

Conclusion 18 Peter Callstrom – San Diego Workforce Partnership Inc. Summer Stephan – San Diego County District Attorney Gary Gallegos – San Diego Association of Governments William Gore – San Diego County Sheriff Adolfo Gonzales – San Diego County Chief of Probation Cindy Marten – San Diego Unified School District Superintendent Shelley Zimmerman – Chief of Police for the City of San Diego Joyce Abrams – Council District 1 Representative Gary Lynn – Council District 2 Representative Geneviève Jones-Wright – Council District 3 Representative Pastor Archie Robinson – Council District 4 Representative Don Johnson – Council District 5 Representative Vihn Tran – Council District 6 Representative Dana Brown – Council District 7 Representative Pastor Cornelius Bowser – Council District 8 Representative Mohamed Ahmed – Council District 9 Representative Ray King – Community-Based Organization Seat Dr. Rodney G. Hood – Council Public Health Elizabeth Bustos – Social Services De’Andre Brooks – Reformed Gang Member Rev. Rickey Laster – Executive Director

Commission on Gang Prevention and Intervention Annual Report 2017 1 WORK OF THE COMMISSION

Work of the Commission The 21-member Commission on Gang Prevention and Intervention meets six times a year, every other month on the third Thursday. The locations vary to assure that the Commission is accessible to all City residents. The Commission has two standing subcommittees: The Communication and Outreach Subcommittee and the Youth Subcommittee.

Communication and Youth Subcommittee

Outreach Subcommittee The Youth Subcommittee launched in September The Communication and Outreach Subcommittee 2016, and represents young people ages 15 to 25 meets on the opposite months of the regularly years who have been impacted scheduled Commission meetings. The by gangs. The Youth Subcommittee is dedicated Subcommittee is currently focusing on the to engaging youth in an effort to stay connected following: with the issues that affect our youth and young The Youth Subcommittee meets once a month caring individuals supporting his well-being. In adults throughout San Diego. on the second Saturday at the Tubman/Chavez August, he was off of probation after four years. Identifying the Commission’s outreach Center. The Subcommittee is engaged in the The Youth Subcommittee continues building needs and creating a plan. Commissioner Dana Brown Southern, California following work: Regional Community Facilitator with ACEs capacity on opportunities for young people to Engaging the public and highlighting Connection, is lending her expertise in the field Representing diverse communities have hope and recognize the power of their voice successes through the City’s social of adverse childhood experiences. Building geographically and citywide. on influencing and impacting systems change. media channels. capacity on Recommendation #1 / Overarching Engaging with community mentors, Goals in the 2015-2020 Strategic Action Plan. Looking at ways to better reach young service providers, systems policy and The goal of advancing prevention efforts to people, and targeting all demographics. decision makers. Current Ad-Hoc Committee increase safety, provide opportunities that Gang Documentation Submitting the Commission’s successes give hope to young people and support the Committing to models developed with for inclusion in the City’s annual implementation of services for the high-end trauma informed principals and During public comment at the July 2016 Highlights and Successes report. offenders. resilience building practices. Commission meeting, community members expressed concerns about gang documentation Promoting activities in which the Aligning with the Commission’s Vision practices in San Diego, specifically related to the Commission takes part. and Mission statements criteria used to document individuals and the Working with the City’s Performance Aligning with Commission’s Strategic gang enhancement allegations filed in criminal and Analytics Department to gather Action Plan 2015 – 2020. cases against individuals documented in the statistical information to include in CalGang database. the Commission’s messages. It was because of the concerns brought forth by Creating a quarterly newsletter to On July 11, 2017, two youth leaders flew to the community members as well as the results highlight programs, projects and work Sacramento for Policymaker Education Day to of California State Auditor Report 2015-130 (the by Commissioners. connect with legislators and/or legislative staff. state audit of the CalGang database) that the One of the youth, Salvador, was still on probation issue of local gang documentation practices was Completed and Published 1st quarterly when he was in Sacramento. With the support placed on the agenda for the next Commission Newsletter of mentors, his case manager and community meeting. At this meeting, the ad hoc Gang youth groups (Youth Empowerment, Youth Voice), Documentation committee was created. The Salvador was mentored through a plethora of purpose of the Committee is to ensure that the

2 Commission on Gang Prevention and Intervention Annual Report 2017 3 Executive Summary

WORK OF THE COMMISSION EXECUTIVE SUMMARY

The latest meeting reported the review started Executive Summary with 797 records. Ten files were eliminated due to their transfer to the Sheriff’s Department The goal of the Commission’s Strategic Action Plan is to advance prevention efforts (Imperial Beach Locos) and 27 files were freshly to increase safety and support the implementation of services necessary for high-risk purged due to five-year time constraints and youth. The Strategic Action Plan follows the best practice model of prevention, could not be inspected prior to their purge. In intervention and high-risk engagement. The three strategies are: all, 760 files were ultimately inspected.

Out of those 760 cases reviewed, 58 people Early intervention, early Since 2006, the Commission has supported have been purged from the system. The average 1) Prevention: childhood education and after-school activities. community initiatives and researched age of a documented gang member is 29.9 and This also includes providing community-wide best practices and resources and made 54 percent of people in database are admitted general information, general education and recommendations to the Mayor and City Council gang members. As of March 31, 2017, there are resource connections. on reducing the impact of gang violence in our 76 documented gangs in San Diego. There are neighborhoods. currently 3,815 gang members identified this information entered in CalGang and relied on year compared to 4,052 gang members last year. 2) Intervention: Efforts that support The Strategic Action Plan for 2015-2020 by the San Diego Police Department (SDPD) workforce readiness, employment and youth emphasizes collaboration as a fundamental as well as other law enforcement agencies is The Committee will meet in order to identify development. approach to prevention and intervention of reliable and that it adheres to requirements safeguards for the criteria that is currently being gang-related crime. that protect individuals’ rights. Commissioner used to document gang members. Pursuant to its Geneviéve Jones-Wright serves as the Chair of purpose and scope, the Committee will continue 3) High-Risk Engagement: A broad range of stakeholders partnered across this Committee. to discuss and address changes that can be made Collaborating with law enforcement systems, disciplines and communities to regarding the criteria to ensure reliability and and partnering with other agencies and promote initiatives on five areas of focus: Committee members meet monthly to discuss fairness in the process. organizations to provide intervention for the the implementation of a voluntary review Employment training and placement; “high end” gang members who require more of our local database by SDPD. It was also intensive resources such as Gang Violence Integration of services; unanimously approved by vote that 20 percent Interruption (GVI) support. of the local database entries will be reviewed, Youth activities;

and within the next year 100 percent of all files Early intervention; and will be reviewed. In addition to the review, the Out of those 760 cases Committee, in its regular meetings, address the Collaborative accountability. various gang documentation issues laid out in reviewed, 58 people have the Commission’s 2009 Annual Report as well as been purged from the the implementation of Assembly Bill No. 2298 (Dr. Weber), among other related issues. system. The average age of a documented gang Through the review done by SDPD, the Committee has identified that many of the member is 29.9 and 54 issues highlighted in California State Auditor percent of people in Report 2015-130 do not exist locally. For example, there were no entries for juveniles database are admitted under the age of 16 and there are no issues gang members. regarding purge dates outside of the five-year limit.

4 Commission on Gang Prevention and Intervention Annual Report 2017 5 EXECUTIVE SUMMARY STRATEGIC ACTION PLAN

The spectrum of resources, research data impacting gangs and gang violence, and are Strategy #1: Prevention and working relationships emerging from broadly advocated throughout San Diego. this collaborative culture strengthened the – Start Early (Information and Education) On April 26, 2017, the Commission on Gang comprehensive response to addressing gang Prevention and Intervention presented its violence in the City. annual work plan. The report reflected the Each iteration of the Commission’s five-year planned work for 2017 as it relates to the Strategic Action Plan is an opportunity to 2015-2020 Strategic Action Plan. The report New Initiatives: Success Agents… review, reaffirm, and recommit to a shared focused with best practices for impacting gang Together we succeed effort at stopping gang violence. The challenge violence. inherent in this process is to continue building The impact of gang-related violence is OVERVIEW on the knowledge and collaboration generated devastating to any community. Residents over the Commission’s nine years of work. The Commission is proud to be part of Success are often caught in the crossfire of shootings The 2015-2020 Strategic Action Plan has been Agents, a new interagency partnership that is and beatings and the emotional trauma is guided by a consistent mission to work with committed to helping at risk elementary school experienced by every resident and business communities and agencies to meet emerging kids thrive both in and outside of school. This owner located within the community. This issues and seek appropriate responses. program is designed to foster relationships, annual report will report out on the work of enhance literacy, and expand the horizons of In addition, families devastated by crime the Annual Work Plan of 2017, and will focus these youth. The fourth graders in Success and loss, grassroots leaders and faith-based on three areas: Agents need our help, as most are struggling communities consistently identified a need In development-concept, with literacy and behavioral problems. for improved access to mental health and Mentorship services is being provided through other support services. It is the consensus New initiatives, this collaboration to work one-on one to develop The partners work together to provide of the community that these services should confidence and life skills to help guild high risk On-going initiative guidance, positive incentives and programs to be grounded in trauma informed practice, offenders in making good decision and put them prevent minors and at-risk youth from joining be culturally competent and incorporate on the path to becoming productive member criminal street gangs. restorative justice principles. These priorities in community. are consistent with best practices for The Success Agents initiative was previously Collaboration Partners include: known as Grip model after the Orange County District Attorney’s Office Grip program. After several meetings with our collaborative partners, the name of the City Attorney’s Office program was changed to Success Agents… San Diego Police Department Together we succeed.

San Diego Unified School District This multi-agency collaboration debuted at Porter Elementary School on March 2017 and City of San Diego Commission on Gang set forward a goal of guiding 10 fourth grade Intervention and Prevention students towards successful pathways and Star Pal out of the hard-edged streets. Success Agents seeks to develop each student’s emotional Porter Elementary School (pilot school) literacy, resilience, confidence, interpersonal San Diego County Probation Department skills and conflict resolution abilities; expose them to new experiences; and encourage them San Diego County Department of Health to set dreams and goals throughout their time and Human Services in the program.

6 Commission on Gang Prevention and Intervention Annual Report 2017 7 STRATEGIC ACTION PLAN STRATEGIC ACTION PLAN

The year’s Success Agents class was extended to 17 students. The diverse staff and volunteers Strategy #1: Prevention contributing to the program have created a sense of an extended family to the program participants, which has led the San Diego Juvenile Justice Commission to honor the program for – Incorporate Trauma-Informed Principles to its impressive teamwork in action. District Attorney Summer Stephan is planning to expand the Preschool and After-School Activities. program to include three additional schools (in North County, East County and South Bay) early next year. Provide Information and Education

Below are a few quotes for a survey taken after completion of the Success Agents s program from students and parents/volunteers involved in program: On-Going Initiatives recommendation of the City Council’s Public Safety and Livable Neighborhoods Committee OVERVIEW and the Commission, which held a joint A trauma-informed approach begins with hearing on the topic on May 13, 2015. “I saw great change, a “There’s been improvement understanding the physical, social, and More than 500 individuals have received complete turnaround in emotional impact of trauma on the individual, in the student’s behavior. training in the Trauma-Informed Care my child, from being that as well as on the professionals who help them. He’s getting good grades approach including City employees from the child who stayed quiet to This includes victim-centered practices. It Park and Recreation and Library departments. and no referrals for behavior incorporates three elements: opening up.” Since February 2015, the City’s Community recently.” Realizing the prevalence of trauma. Review Board on Police Practices, STAR/ Parent Teacher mentor PAL and the County of San Diego Probation Recognizing how trauma affects all individuals Department have all participated in the involved with the program, organization, or training as well. system, including its own workforce. “I learned to follow We are proud of our Commissioner Chief of my dreams.” Responding by putting this knowledge into Probation Adolfo Gonzales and his team for practice. Student implementing this approach in their juvenile Given the trauma that results from gang facilities. San Diego County Probation “Leaders clearly emerged. activity, the Commission, Mayor and City Department created a 20-bed Trauma Confidence appears to Council have looked to the trauma-informed Responsive Unit in Juvenile Hall to provide evidence-based treatment to youth impacted “I learned that police are have been increased.” approach to guide prevention activities. by traumatic experiences. just trying to help us.” Volunteer Student Trauma-Informed Care ACEs in Youth Justice The Commission will continue to work “My mentee improved his in collaboration with entities that serve Continued efforts are being made in this behavior and showed more children and youth in the community to help field as discussions of transition and reentry kindness to other students.” ensure that trauma-informed principles and issues of out of home treatment, detention, anti-bullying strategies are incorporated shelter, etc. is offering youth the opportunity Teacher mentor into services. The Commission has and to get back to their families and communities. will continue to assist in compiling written Frequently these youth have fallen behind materials for public distribution and/or in their schooling, have reduced motivation, training opportunities for staff in applying and lack skills to navigate requirements to these principles. The City Council approved successfully re-enter school programs or even and adopted the Resolution for Trauma- to move ahead with their dreams. Informed Care on July 28, 2015, following the

8 Commission on Gang Prevention and Intervention Annual Report 2017 9 STRATEGIC ACTION PLAN STRATEGIC ACTION PLAN

support. Additionally, the district is providing have surpassed the previous years. In 2017 Further, trauma informed care, restorative continue to build a strong foundation of professional development for staff and the total amount of teens who attended such justice practices, and culturally appropriate prevention and support for each and every community members on this topic through events topped at 7,698 participants, 1,528 services must be the foundation for education student. Often large systems work in a reactive information sessions, film screenings, panel more than in 2016. Furthermore with the and services implemented by this Strategic mode, and SDUSD is working deliberately discussions and community awareness events. addition of the five new sites (Martin Luther Action Plan/Initiative. and strategically to break that paradigm. The A newly formed partnership to further this King Jr., Skyline, Cesar Chavez, Colina and district’s focus is prevention. prevention work is with the Lawyer’s Club of Mira Mesa) we essentially perceive over a This year, SDUSD created an Integrated San Diego. quarter of the total participants attending Trauma-Informed Holistic Student Support division that is focusing on events at these locations. The third area where teams are coming Approach prevention, intervention and restoration to together is with students who have decrease the need for reactive and punitive Under the leadership of Chairman Dr. Rodney experienced the court system through approaches to solving situations both CARE Community Center Hood, the Commission has begun to focus probation. Teams including school police, academic and behavioral. The emphasis is on on a trauma-informed holistic approach. A representatives of the Office of Reconnection, relationships, respect and responsibility. The CARE Community Center is a product study, sponsored by the Center for Health Placement and Appeals and community of community collaboration with the San Assessments of over 9,000 enrollees, One area of expansion is the work of partners have come together to discuss Diego County District Attorney’s Office established a graded relationship between restorative practices that the school district prevention and intervention and determine if aimed at actively linking an individual in the the number of adverse childhood experiences continues to build with partners in the there are indicators that could be looked at to community-to-community based prevention (ACEs) such as physical, mental, sexual or community, including the Commission, intervene prior to a student needing probation and intervention services. The goal is to build substance abuse, exposure to severe mental National Conflict Resolution Center and or diversion. This is a newly formed team that strong community relationships and reduce illness violence or criminal behavior and the California Endowment. This effort continues is committed to exploring additional options crime. onset of adult diseases such as ischemic heart to provide prevention opportunities by for students. disease, cancer, chronic lung diseases, liver developing a positive school climate through Located in Southeastern San Diego, which Teams working together for a common disease, severe obesity and mental health the use of community building circles, is a large ethnically diverse, low-income purpose will make the difference for students. diseases (American Journal of Preventative restorative conferences and by using students community that has been plagued by gangs, Each student has a gift and talent to share, and Medicine, 1998; 14, VJ Felitti). as circle builders to lead the circles with their drug activity, assaults and shootings, the CARE there is value in creating the conditions that peers. Community Center provides residents with Evidence also suggest that residents in low- allow that gift to shine. evidence-based prevention and intervention income and underserved communities will A vertically aligned approach has been support services to help them improve their have greater exposures to various forms of launched at Porter Elementary, Knox Middle quality of life, reduce crime and recidivism and toxic stress including violence that is either and Lincoln High schools this year to create Park and Recreation Collaboration promote public safety. experienced or witnessed. The addition of a way for students to build their restorative trauma-informed practices into the healthcare mindset should they be faced with problems The Commission continues to support the system and the integration of restorative and dilemmas in their school and community expansion of the City’s Park and Recreation Food Distribution/Pantry justice concepts into behavioral health models environments. Department’s Friday Night Teen Program. will create a Trauma-Informed System of During the summer of 2016, a total of 6,170 CARE has recently developed a partnership Wellness. The second area of preventative work that is teens participated in the program, compared with Turning the Hearts Center. Through this happening is the awareness curriculum for to a total of 5,419 in 2015. collaboration, a “farmer’s market” style food human trafficking that has been created with distribution is held at the CARE Center on the With the allied partnership between the Point Loma Nazarene University, SDUSD and third Saturday of each month from 11 a.m. to San Diego Unified School District Commission and the Park and Recreation other community partners that will launch 1 p.m. The first distribution occurred in July Integrated Student Support Department’s Friday Night Teen Program, this fall at SDUSD schools, starting with San and the number of families the distribution we comprehend the continued success of this The San Diego Unified School District (SDUSD) Diego High School. has served has increased steadily. In total, the emphasizes the creation of an environment program by the year as once again the total It is critical to provide information on distribution has served close to 200 families. that is worthy academically, socially and amount of participants for the year of 2017 the warning signs as well as ways to seek physically for students. This is accomplished assistance for our youth who may need through multiple approaches that will

10 Commission on Gang Prevention and Intervention Annual Report 2017 11 STRATEGIC ACTION PLAN STRATEGIC ACTION PLAN

Additionally, the center has an emergency food If referred youths meet all the necessary pantry that can be accessed once per week per requirements, they will appear before a panel Strategy #2: Intervention family during our normal hours of operation. of volunteer community representatives who In total, this program has assisted 37 families. serve as liaisons for the intervention between – Youth Development the participants and the juvenile court system. Each case is heard by a panel that will then Community Youth Court assign proper consequences and accordingly verify the program completion for the The Community Youth Court is a community- participants. In Development-Concept a week with high-risk youth in a village based diversion program for youth participants Wrap-Around Program setting, meaning all the mentors and mentees referred by the SDPD, SDUSD, San Diego The program holds the participants come together and work on projects and/or County Probation Department and the accountable for their actions, and through the OVERVIEW participate in community events; so that the Commission. When youths make contact with educational component, gives them a better mentees know there isn’t just one mentor This is a pilot program that is currently SDPD officers for certain offenses, the officers understanding of the impact their choices providing the support they need, they have an being developed by the Commission on may refer them to the program. and actions have on their communities, their entire village of mentors to draw from when Gang Prevention and Intervention, the San families and themselves. and if necessary. Community Youth Court has recently been Diego County Health and Human Services, using the Risk and Resiliency assessment Multicultural Health Foundation and the The vision is to create community stewards given by the Probation Department, and these County Probation Department which is Girls Only/Boys Only! ToolKit who understand the value of community and assessment results are given to Community collaborating to connect high-risk offenders are committed to making our communities a Youth Court panelists prior to their meeting Between the collaboration of the County and their families to services depending on decent and safe place to live. This component with the youth. Through this process, District Attorney’s Office and the Commission assessed needs. Many of these youth are will facilitate conflict resolution training, Community Youth Court panelists can better this initiative is envisioned to empower girls supervised by the Probation Department’s “Beef” Mediation training along with the 3 P’s understand the youth’s actions and identify aged 8 to 12 to prepare them to love and honor Juvenile Gang Intervention and Intensive of Life Skills principles that helps to ensure a the youth’s needs, allowing them to assign themselves. This is crucial for their future Supervision Unit. This program plans to pathway out of poverty and want into success programs that will best help the youth. success as it can help them avoid any sort of identify 10 to 15 high-risk youth and their and stability: Personal Protection, Personal involvement with gangs, substance abuse, family to provide wrap- around service. Health and Personal Wealth. The Community Youth Court has also begun prostitution, human trafficking and so forth. follow-up panel sessions. During these follow- Through a series of meetings with our partners A meeting was held on April 26, 2017, with a up sessions, youth who are in need of further The program has expanded to an additional it has been noted that many at-risk youth’s collaborating partner to finalize the program support in completing their assignments are four Boys & Girls Clubs, and three afterschool behavioral problems stem from the lack of components and begin the process of selecting brought back for a check-in with members programs. The recent evaluations showed resources at home for the family. Because of participants and families. This program is still of Community Youth Court. Through these that programs who kept to the fidelity of the this factor there will be an assessment tool in the conception stage and the Commission new processes, youth have been able to stay program saw improvements in resiliency. utilized to determine what if any services are continues to work with strategic partners on track and receive further support from the The human trafficking prevention curriculum needed in the home and those identified needs across sectors for implementation. community. With these new processes, we are is aimed towards girls to teach them about will be meet through our supportive partners feeling more comfortable working with high- making positive choices. The program is now and their agencies. risk youth. developing a curriculum for boys to prevent This program will also have a mentoring human trafficking. The care center guided 40 kids through component that will serve as a one on one Community Youth Court. There are 15 kids at counseling and resource service that will assist Lincoln High School and 15 at E3 Civic High high-risk youth live a productive life and leave School. the gang culture behind. The mentor program will use a village concept and philosophy: It takes a village to raise a child. It will spend one to three hours

12 Commission on Gang Prevention and Intervention Annual Report 2017 13 STRATEGIC ACTION PLAN STRATEGIC ACTION PLAN

Strategy #2: Intervention Strategy #2: Youth Development – Provide Job Opportunities That Can Turn – Positive Interactions with Adults Are Critical Lives around.

Job training program Initiative Also, the following work readiness trainings Game Changers and job fairs were held in City Council districts A new initiative was adopted this year by the OVERVIEW 4 and 6: Commission during this year entitled Game This Job training program initiative brought Work readiness training with Changers. The Commission is thrilled to together the Commission on Gang Prevention Connecting Hope: Thursday, Sept. 14, report on the success on this new initiative, and Intervention and the San Diego Workforce 2017, at the Jacobs Center. which focuses on the problem of the lack of Partnership and the faith based leader in quality time spent between law enforcement Work readiness training with Stepping Southeastern San Diego to support programs and members of low-income communities. Higher: Saturday, Sept. 9, 2017, at Total that are already serving and placing youth and The ultimate goal here is to begin generating Deliverance Worship Center. young adults ages 16-24. This job training informative dialogue between the community program initiative help expanded the reach of YMCA & Mt. Erie Job Fair: Thursday, (adults, young adults, and troubled youth), CONNECT2Careers and supported the efforts June 8, 2017, at Mt. Erie. law enforcement and justice system officials and capacity building of local, grass roots during 3-hour moderated focus groups that Councilmember Cate D6 Job Fair: efforts. Some of the faith-based organizations take place three hours before a local sports Thursday, Sept. 14, 2017, at Mira Mesa that are currently serving the community in team/entertainment event. The San Diego High School. this area are Freedom School, Connecting Police Department, San Diego State University Hope, My Brother’s Keeper and Steeping Police Department and the San Diego County Higher. The San Diego Workforce Partnership Sheriff Department are some of the partnered recently executed contracts with Connecting These events had a total 217 participants agencies that work hand on hand with setting Hope and Stepping Higher to provide services and 35 employers which lead to 24 on-the- up events with San Diego Gulls Hockey, for these youth and young adults. spot interviews during a Jack in the Box University of San Diego Toreros Football and Recruitment & Hiring Event held at the City’s San Diego Padres on this initiative. Since Valencia Park/Malcolm X Branch Library. December 2016 there have been 22 Game Changer events with a total of 120 law enforcement participants and 176 community participants.

14 Commission on Gang Prevention and Intervention Annual Report 2017 15 STRATEGIC ACTION PLAN STRATEGIC ACTION PLAN

Strategy #2: Youth Development The first course produced two graduates on To date, 13 youth have successfully completed 7/6/16 held at the Hall of Champions at Balboa the Life Skills Course and have been provided – Positive Interactions with Adults Are Critical Park. The second group graduated on 4/11/17 information, support, and guidance as and included 6 youth who attended at the San to how to best make the best choices for Diego Police Department Mid-City Division. their future. Following their respective The third group graduated on 8/24/17 and Life Skills graduations, to strengthen their included 5 youth who attended at the South public speaking skills, many of the youth Community Wrap Program consequences, obstacles and opportunities. Bay Probation Office in Chula Vista. The last have presented at a Commission on Gang The goal is to empower youth by providing two graduations occurred at the Tubman- Prevention and Intervention meeting, The County Probation Department collaborates them the necessary tools in order to become Chavez Center. detailing their experience with the Life Skills with SDPD, Fred Finch Youth Center and New productive, successful and confident adults. course. Harvest Christian Fellowship in providing The program teaches important life lessons community mentors for gang-involved such as strong interpersonal skills, effective youth. Many of these youth are supervised by communication, job preparation, retention the Probation Department’s Juvenile Gang and advancement, exposure to continued Intervention and Intensive Supervision Unit. educational and vocational opportunities and Strategy #3: High-Risk Engagement Mentorship services through this collaboration financial and emotional literacy. have been provided since November 2015. – Establish Critical Positive Interactions with Adults Additionally, the Probation Department The program curriculum of the skills course has partnered with the San Diego Sheriff’s includes the development of a life plan, college Civics Bicycle Program, providing refurbished presentation, field trip to a college campus, bikes to youth and adults in need. Since the field trip to a trade institution, workforce program’s inception in April 2016, 34 bikes presentation, healthy lifestyles presentation Overview prevention with San Diego inner city youth. have been provided. along with basic first aid instruction, Spearheaded by Billy Moore, Archie’s son, Establishing positive interactions with adults is financial literacy, emotional literacy through and headquartered in Central San Diego, ABC an important part of engaging with high-risk a restorative circle process, driver’s permit/ Youth Foundation works to teach youth to groups. These groups include serious and chronic license training along with a field trip to step off into life without cowardice, but with Life Skills Course offenders, gang involved youth, high-risk the DMV, tattoo removal presentation and a courage and dignity. ABC Youth Foundation The San Diego County Probation Department’s youth and any youth with the potential of being presentation by an attorney regarding record supports its mission with after school youth Juvenile Gang Intervention and Intensive involved in a gang. The programs and services sealing. boxing, in-house educational tutoring and Supervision Unit, STAR/PAL, Junior that engage these populations in positive their Bridge the Gap school break program. Achievement, San Diego County Office of interactions may be the difference between a life In 2017, there were more than 1,000 youth that Education, Workforce Partnership, and several of crime and gang involvement and the life of a took advantage of the facility. ABC was invited other partners formed a unique partnership productive citizen. to develop a class for Juvenile Hall were it to address youth ages 16-19 who are out of worked with youth twice a week for six months custody and are at-risk of recidivism. As instilling these life changing values. part of an eight-lesson curriculum, this ABC School of Boxing Youth program combines law enforcement, business Development ABC continues its Community Awareness professionals, educators and lessons in Boxing and Fundraising Campaign called financial and emotional literacy to teach at- The Commission, the City’s Economic 1,000,000 Punches from the Heart. The risk youth the importance of building a solid Development Department and the Mayor’s Office theme of this program is to punch out racism, foundation for life skills that are required to have worked together to assist with funding for gang violence and police distrust. Together successfully transition into adulthood. the ABC (Any Body Can) Boxing program. ABC we can do this by embracing collaborative Youth Foundation, a nonprofit organization relationships and setting the national model The focus of the program is to educate established in 1957 by World Boxing Champion for positive community change said “Billy youth about the importance of choices, Archie Moore, has a mission focused on gang Moore.”

16 Commission on Gang Prevention and Intervention Annual Report 2017 17 CONCLUSION

The results of this program are lower arrest continue their outstanding work in combating and recidivism rates, decreased burdens on the gang violence in the community. courts and prison systems and lower costs to Community Assistance Support Team society. (C.A.S.T)

Project Aware

Ongoing Collaboration My Brother’s Keeper The Commission on Gang Prevention and Paving Great Futures Intervention continues to work with the following community-based organizations Game Changers that are committed to decreasing the violence Compassion Project in the community and either have no funding or very little funding. These organizations Mother’s with Message certainly deserve the needed resources to

Conclusion The work of the Commission on Gang Prevention and Intervention continues to be an example of successful collaboration between law enforcement, communities, elected officials and appointed Commissioners. The 2015-2020 Strategic Action Plan serves as a guide for the work of the Commission, and all of the Commissioners deserve credit for their contributions every day that improve their communities, the City and the region. We look forward to continuing these initiatives that will make a positive difference in the lives of young people. The Commissioners are committed to this collaborative approach which bring, together a collective strength as we advocate for programs, resources and opportunities for at-risk youth in San Diego.

18 Commission on Gang Prevention and Intervention Annual Report 2017 SECTION NAME

City of San Diego Commission on Gang Prevention and Intervention 1010 Second Ave., Suite 1325, MS 613 San Diego, CA 92101

Phone: 619-533-4874 Email: [email protected]

sandiego.gov