This Friday the UCF School of Social Work will be putting on a conference “Understanding Gang Violence – Prevention and Intervention: A Community Response” that will focus on gangs and gang activity in Central Florida and how to prevent gang activity in youth as well as serve as a general information source for the public on the subject.
In the UCF campus news email I received Orlando is cited as having "experienced an 86 percent increase in street gang activity." There was no information as to where the information was obtained but I'll look into it. On top of this the email reported that more than 50 different street gangs are operating in the Orange County area today, according to Orange County Sheriff's reports.
I get the feeling the is geared mostly toward social workers who are dealing with the effects of gang activity on families and school-aged children but it would be interesting to check out just to be informed.
Some parts of the day that might pique your interest:
- Speaker Luis Rodriguez, a former gang member and author of “Always Running: La Vida Loca, Gang Days in L.A.” one of the first books giving outsiders a look into gang culture
- A panel of former gang members at 3:45 p.m. that will be discussing gang culture, why people get involved and why it is hard to leave
- An Orange County Sheriff's department presentation on street gangs in Central Florida
