Symposium on Gang Violence

The public is invited to attend a June 2 symposium regarding gang violence in Puget Sound. Keynote speaker will be the Hon. Richard A. Jones, U.S. District judge. National and local experts, community leaders and involved citizens are also scheduled to attend to discuss the growing problem and work toward finding real solutions. The event is free. For more information, contact event organizer the Thomas C. Wales Foundation, at (206) 233-2801. Seattle Public Schools' Safety and Security Department is a co-presenter of the event. Click on the links for the Web page and flier.

Gang Violence: Real Problems and Real Solutions for Puget Sound
Tuesday, June 2
7-9 p.m.
Seattle City Hall, Bertha Knight Landes Room
600 4th Ave.

Comments

MathTeacher42 said…
Hopefully the event will be lead by lots of highly credentialed people from prestigous institutions of higher learning. That subset of citizens has done an astounding job leading our society's institutions, such as education, banking, finance, manufacturing ...

Hopefully they'll deign to enliten us with the latest greatest blaze of illimination from their ivoried towers - with powerpoint, I do pray.
Ananda said…
The list of presenters is impressive, and not ivory tower folk. I suggest you read the fyler before disparaging this group.
MathTeacher42 said…
I WORK at Franklin. That means my JOB is AT a high school, and that means that is where I spend my work time.

Because I don't have rah rah to say, then I'm disparaging people?

Grow up.

What is the chance that there will be good ideas presented? Very good.
What is the chance that these ideas have been around for years, or decades? Very good.
What is the chance that good ideas will be PAID for AND implemented? Slim to none.
What is the chance that too much of what little money is directed towards this problem is directed into the pockets of worthless ivory tower studies and conferences and presentations ...

YAWN ... about 100%.

When those who are willing to state what a mess reality is are attacked for not speaking as if they're addressing 4 year olds on Seasame Street, it is hard to change reality.
seattle citizen said…
Mathteacher,
I understand your cynicism, and your comments have some validity. But what are we gonna do, give up? While some at this meeting might be "rah rah," it's also a chance for us to network, hear ideas, think about (and hopefully implement) personal or organized ideas to somehow help this horrific situation.

Me, I think this stuff is embedded in many aspects of society. It's very, very deep. How do we extricate the numerious threads and deal with them, without dealing with larger societal issues? We don't.

The possible downside of these sorts of meetings is that they might give the impression that society is actually doing something, that it cares. But unless the larger issues are confronted, it runs the risk of making us think we're effective, or active, in combatting this stuff when in fact we've barely scratched the surface: It makes us feel like we're doing all we can, when we're obviously not.

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