What Parents and a Community Can Do—Ending Gang-Violence in Watsonville

Earlier this week, I asked readers, friends and community members to share their feelings and ideas about how gang violence is affecting their lives on . It has been a learning experience for me and it has also helped me to sort out my own feelings on this subject.

The first comment on my blog was from a man who had been out with his 12-year-old son at the Target shopping center. They were walking through the parking lot at the time of the shooting and witnessed the aftermath.  Unfortunately, you can't erase a scene like that from your own mind, let alone from the mind of your child. It is hard to feel safe when you hear of an incident like this happening in daylight, in front of a crowd of innocent bystanders in the parking lot of one of the city's most popular shopping centers.

It could have been any of us there that night. What can we do about gang safety for all of us, as well as protecting our children? I talked to many families over the past several days to get their opinions of what they will do, and what they think should be done. I thought I would get some mixed ideas and some tips to share, but I was very surprised at what was a very common thread running through the thoughts of each and every person I spoke to. That common thread was this: Involvement. Teaming up together as a community and pushing it out and working together to stop it from spreading before it reaches an epidemic.

But what can we really do? Actually, there is a lot we can do, especially if we work together as a community. Here are a few ideas.

• National Night Out:  National Night Out is a national crime and drug awareness event that takes place locally in neighborhoods across the country.  It is a great way to show your support for your community. In fact, there are approximately 21 of these events scheduled in Watsonville on this coming Tuesday, Aug. 2. This is a fun event with block parties and family entertainment that helps to foster a sense of community in our neighborhoods. It is also a perfect place to meet your neighbors, as well as talk to local police and elected officials. This sends the message of community support and how, together, we will fight back against crime. Here is a great article about National Night Out as well as a list of the events in Watsonville on August 2:
• Teaching our Children and Teens: You might think this should go without saying, but you would be surprised. There are a lot of people who think gangs would not affect their children. They might believe gangs are not affiliated with their school, or their kids are young and it can't happen. Sometimes, parents are mistaken that their child does not know anyone affiliated with gangs. The truth is, we might not know that until it is too late. We think we know our children, but do we know the influence they are receiving when we are not there? Our own parents probably thought they knew all about our friends and interactions, but did they really? It is important to educate our kids and let them know about gangs and what it really means to belong to one, what they stand for and what members are expected to do. It is also important that they aren't afraid to speak up if they see activity, or are approached by gang members. This is also why events such as the above National Night Out are important, to gain that sense of community so no one hides in fear of talking about what they know.
• Be Aware: Another common thought among people I spoke to was to be aware of your surroundings and report suspicious activity as soon as you see it happening. It is important not to look the other way or assume that someone else has already called or dealt with it. Don't wait to report it, the sooner it is reported the better chances the criminals will be caught.
• School Site Involvement:  It is important for school faculty, as well as all staff members, to be educated regularly about gangs and what to look for to identify gang activity among students. Much of what we know about gangs already, such as colors, tags, etc., are only the tip of the iceberg. It is important that the school faculty and staff members know what is new and what to look for among students.
• Community Programs: We need programs to educate children and teens of what it really means to belong to a gang, and that gang mentality is not something they should strive for in life. We need to guide our youth to look forward to a bright future, that they can go to college if they choose, and/or be whatever they want to be in life. Getting them involved in after-school programs or other group activities can help. They don't need to choose a life that leads down a dark and dismal path.
• Call Upon Your Civic Voice: There are many ways to do this, your voice does count. Vote, sign and/or make petitions, rally support together in your community, form neighborhood watch groups, etc. Contact your local, state and U.S representatives and tell them how you feel. Change only happens if we stand up and make it happen. The fact is laws can be changed, enforcement can be stepped up, prisons can have programs for reformation if we stand up and fight back. Change will happen if we use our voices.

I realized that I am not alone in my feelings as a parent and a community member. Just about everyone I spoke to about this subject had strong feelings that we need to end this, and that we need to step up and work together as a strong community to make the necessary changes happen, Those changes will happen if we want them and work towards our goals; a reminder that baby steps will take you miles.

Do you have comments and/or ideas to share with others about what we can do to end the gang-activity? Please post them here.