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October 6, 2009

Program for children on gang awareness

NJ.com

By Erin Duffy
October 02, 2009, 7:42PM
TRENTON — A new Trenton Free Public Library program seeks to hammer home the dangers of gang lifestyles and youth violence to school-age children.

The month-long initiative, called “Gang Sense,” partners the Trenton Public Library with the state police and Department of Corrections for a one-of-a-kind program that’s unlike any other in the state, according to library director Kimberly Matthews.

The program will focus mainly on preventing violence and destroying the lure of street gangs for kids in grades five through eight.

The four-week long program will begin Tuesday and run every Tuesday night at 6 p.m. Every night has a different theme, like “making good choices,” “finding positive role models,” or “introduction to the pressures of joining gangs.”

The last week will include a harrowing visit from former gang members who have renounced their gang affiliation as part of Northern State Prison’s Security Threat Group Management Unit and help promote the department’s Gang Awareness and Prevention Program, according to Deirdre Fedkenheuer, a spokeswoman for the DOC.

“It’s a very powerful presentation,” she said, one whose message is compounded by the fact that all the former gang members are still currently incarcerated.

Matthews said Gang Sense will build upon the preventative, early-action messages targeted at kids that other Trenton organizations, like the police department, mayor’s office and public school system have been stressing for years.

“(They’re) doing a lot to fight gang violence and this is just one more thing we can do to help,” she said. “Educational programs like this, community programs like this are absolutely vital.”

The program is free, but space each night is limited to 30 to 35 students. All kids must be accompanied by a parent or adult guardian, Matthews stressed.

“Parents should really come with the intention of participating with their kids in this,” she said.

The program will be held at the main branch of the library at 120 Academy Street.
For more information, or to register your child, call 609-392-7188.

Contact Erin Duffy at eduffy@njtimes.com or (609) 989-5723

Posted by tumulty at October 6, 2009 11:37 AM

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