Nevada senator to address "Winning the War Against Youth Gangs" during VCU lecture

By Marcia Meredith

Halting the spread of youth gangs across America will be the focus of a Nevada state senator’s lecture during a Virginia Commonwealth University School of Education program on March 28 at 7 p.m. The event, part of VCU’s annual Outstanding Woman Advocate for Education program, will be held at the Virginia Museum of Fine Arts Auditorium, 2800 Grove Ave.

A desire to belong to a group, the need to replace absent parents and other factors that motivate youth to join gangs will be explored by state sen. Valerie Wiener, current chair of the Nevada Commission on School Safety and Juvenile Violence.

"What once was viewed as an inner-city problem can now be found everywhere, including suburbia," Wiener said. A nationally-recognized author, consultant and speaker, Wiener has written several books including "Gang Free: Friendship Choices for Today’s Youth," and "Winning the War Against Youth Gangs." She also was the only state legislator chosen to participate in the 1998 "White House Conference on School Safety: Causes and Prevention of Youth Violence."

"Youth gangs in Virginia – and across the country – are not just a little problem. They are at their peak along the interstate, including Richmond, Norfolk and Northern Virginia.

We want to prevent them from escalating. Senator Wiener will share strategies for combating the growth of gangs,"said Gaynelle Whitlock, director of the VCU School of Education’s Center for School/Community Collaboration.

The center -- which provides training for teachers, counselors and youth caregivers in the area of youth safety and violence prevention -- received a $250,000 grant from the Virginia General Assembly to continue their study of youth gang prevention.

"Teens want to feel like they belong – like they count for something. This is a common reason why youngsters are drawn to gangs. Senator Wiener’s lecture will touch upon these root issues," Whitlock said.

Wiener recently was named the 21st Outstanding Woman Advocate for Education by VCU’s School of Education and the Alpha Alpha Alpha Chapter of the Delta Kappa Gamma Society – a program which provides an opportunity for students, faculty and the professional community to benefit from the perspectives of exemplary professional women from around the nation.

The lecture and reception immediately following are free and open to the public. For more information, call 828-3844.