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Anti-Gang and Youth Violence Policy Team

Working toward practical and sustainable solutions to reduce youth violence

                                                                         Click here for What's New

The Anti-Gang and Youth Violence Policy Team was created in response to recommendations from Mayor Begich's Community Youth Violence/Gang Response Team. The group first convened at the November 2006 Anti-Gang and Youth Violence Summit, which was sponsored by the U.S. Attorney's office and the Tri-Borough Commission representing Anchorage and the Kenai Peninsula and Matanuska-Susitna boroughs.

The Policy Team is co-chaired by Anchorage Mayor Mark Begich and US Attorney Nelson Cohen. It consists of 21 members, including the mayors of the Matanuska-Susitna and Kenai Peninsula boroughs, members of the Alaska Judiciary, District Attorney's office, Anchorage Prosecutor's office, criminal defense practice, law enforcement, school districts, non-profit agencies, faith-based organizations, and other community organizations.  Click here to view the Anti-Gang and Youth Violence Policy Team member list.

Policy Team meetings are open to the public and held in the Mayor's Conference Room in Anchorage City Hall, (632 W. 6th Avenue, Ste. 830).  Policy Team meetings are held at 10:00am on the third Friday of each month.

Policy Team Sub-Committees
Each Policy Team member serves on at least one sub-committee in the areas of Prevention, Intervention, Law Enforcement, and Assessment. Additional federal, state, municipal, business and non-profit representatives also serve on the sub-committees. Click on the sub-committee names above for a list of members serving on each committee.

Each sub-committee has organized work groups actively focusing on objectives prioritized by the Policy Team. Due to the active engagement of the work groups, the sub-committees no longer meet monthly.  If you are interested in attending a work group meeting for any of the sub-committees (listed under each sub-committee in the section below), please contact Catherine Curtis at CurtisCR@muni.org or (907) 343-7130 for meeting time and location.

Sub-Committee Objectives
Each sub-committee of the Anti-Gang and Youth Violence Policy Team has identified focus areas for their efforts. Objectives for these areas were submitted to the Policy Team, which reviewed and prioritized all submissions. The work groups focusing on these objectives report to the Policy Team, and project updates can be reviewed in Policy Team meeting summaries (see column at right). Brief descriptions of the priority objectives follow, by work group:

Prevention Sub-Committee
     Family Support & Engagement Work Group - Developing a plan for a Family Center to provide families with support and resources through community services accessed on-site and assistance from cultural navigators. This facility is envisioned to be co-located with a community court as part of a Community Justice Center.

     Media & Public Education & Community Engagement Work Group - Currently developing a dual-message media campaign on youth violence issues and how the community can help, and addressing adult misperceptions of youth. This group is also looking at how media reports on youth violence.

     Positive Youth Development Work Group - This group's objective to develop a coalition of mentoring organizations is being led by Big Brothers Big Sisters, the Anchorage Youth Development Coalition, and the United Way of Anchorage Substance Use Coalition. The Policy Team receives regular reports on this effort from a participating member.

Intervention Sub-Committee
     Safe Places & Youth Alternatives Work Group -  Currently working on a program for at least 25 long-term suspended or expelled students who are not eligible for other public and private programs. This program may potentially be co-located with the Community Justice Center.

     School Engagement Work Group - Joining with members of the Juvenile Justice Working Group to address absenteeism and truancy.

Law Enforcement Sub-Committee
     Community Justice Center Work Group - Planning for a neighborhood-based community court that will initially work with youth misdemeanor offenders. The court will enhance restitution and accountability for criminal acts with additional sentencing that addresses the root of the offending behavior. Such sentencing may include family assessment and counseling, addiction counseling, life and job skills training, or referral to other services co-located in the facility. This facility is envisioned to co-locate with the Family Center (see Prevention) and the Long-term Suspension/Expulsion program (see Intervention).

     Community Policing Work Group - This group supports the ongoing priority to promote community policing as described in the APD Strategic Plan (see pg. 29). It will also partner with the Community Justice Center and Family Center work groups to engage local citizens with that project.

     Legislation Work Group - This group leads an ongoing priority to review pending and existing legislation supporting the Policy Team focus, and to develop new legislation for consideration by the Policy Team.

What's New

National District Attorneys Association
Technical Assistance Award
The Anti-Gang & Youth Violence Policy Team was one of six jurisdictions awarded technical assistance for its efforts to combat youth and gang-related violence. A team of four visited Anchorage April 17 & 18 to meet with the Policy Team and work groups as part of that award. For more information, see the press release here.

Coordinating a Community Plan for Youth
The United Way of Anchorage joined with community groups on July 18, 2007 to begin work on a community plan for youth. Over 80 people attended to learn about current projects--including those of the Anti-Gang and Youth Violence Policy Team and its sub-committees--and to dialogue about how combining and aligning efforts can work to the benefit of youth and the community. Click here to learn more about the Anchorage Community Plan for Youth.

If you have questions or need special accommodation due to a disability, please contact Catherine Curtis at 343-7130, or email CurtisCR@muni.org.

Contact the Mayor's Office
632 W. 6th Avenue Anchorage, Alaska 99501
PO Box 196650 Anchorage, Alaska 99519
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