“We must build a city where gangs can't get near a single kid under 16 and where any gang member who wants out can exit la vida loca—and live. Then let get really radical and actually end the malignant poverty that drives the violent dysfunction. Choose this road or join Rio's trajectory toward Mogadishu.”
— from “L.A.'s Budding Mogadishus: Nearly feral areas need urgent help,” by Constance L. Rice, printed in the Los Angeles Times, December 23rd, 2004.
Gang Activity Reduction Strategy - Phase I Report
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City of Los Angeles' Gang Activity Reduction Strategy In March of this year, the Los Angeles City Council selected the Advancement Project (AP) as the contractor to develop a citywide Gang Activity Reduction Strategy. The project is overseen by the Ad Hoc Committee on Gang Violence and Youth Development, chaired by Councilmember Tony Cardenas.
In collaboration with a team of leading local and national experts, AP has adopted a Public Health Model of Violence Prevention, which advocates a multidisciplinary approach that reduces the factors that place youths at increased risk of being involved in gangs and violence and increases the factors that permit youths to resist the lure of gangs and violence. This project will propose an answer to the question, "What would Los Angeles' gang activity reduction system look like if we could start from scratch?"
This report is the Phase I report completed in July and presented to the Ad Hoc committee on August 2nd. In Phase I, the Advancement Project conducted an assessment of the current efforts toward gang activity reduction in the City of Los Angeles. In completing the Phase I report, the Advancement Project team conducted interviews and site visits of City departments, programs, and community based organizations; reviewed public documents and literature; and analyzed available crime and demographic data. This report is an integrated analysis of the findings from this first phase of the investigation.
In the following phases, related best practices will be identified in Phase II and options for implementation will be proposed at the end of Phase III.
LA Gang Truce
In 1992, gang leaders throughout Los Angeles launched a remarkable set of ceasefire agreements and truces in communities ravaged by relentless gunfire and other violence fueled by crack-cocaine wars. Advancement Project's Connie Rice played a key role in supporting the truce movement, raising funds for truce programs and rallying allies from Hollywood, the world of lawyers and the ranks of law enforcement. She also facilitated dialogue between truce leaders and police, reducing the friction that threatened enforcement of the truce agreements.
Connie Rice talks with Tavis of NPR's The Tavis Smiley Show about the truce negotiations she witnessed between several L.A. gang members.
Listen in with  RealPlayer or  Windows Media Player.
Urban Peace Awards
 Ten years after the historic gang truce movement began, Advancement Project co-launched the Los Angeles Urban Peace Awards with actor and Advancement Project board member Harry Belafonte, Cardinal Roger M. Mahony, actor Danny Glover, Father Greg Boyle and Los Angeles County Sheriff Lee Baca. The immediate mission of UPA is to end violence, restore community and reclaim responsibility. The event, held on September 21, 2002, honored organizations that forge peace, personal transformation and promise for poor neighborhoods.
Connie Rice talks with Tavis of NPR's The Tavis Smiley Show about the Urban Peace Awards.
Listen with RealPlayer or Windows Media Player.
Awardees
Sankofa Peace Prize for Urban Peace to:
- Santa Cruz Barrios Unidos
- Homies Unidos
- The Amer-I-Can Foundation
- Community Self Determination Institute
Sankofa Peace Prize for Political Courage to:
- LA County Supervisor Michael D. Antonovich
- Former California State Senator Tom Hayden
Sankofa Peace Prize for Visionary Law Enforcement
- LA County Sheriff Leroy D. Baca
Sankofa Peace Prize for Courage in Philanthropy
- The California Wellness Foundation
Sankofa Peace Prize Artist
Learn more about these organizations:
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