LA HABRA : Task Force Offers Anti-Gang Forum

A forum to help educate parents on how to combat gangs will be held at La Habra High School at 7 p.m. Wednesday.

The evening will include presentations from Mario Machado, a Los Angeles television personality; Astrid Hagar, a staff doctor at USC Medical Center; Charan Levitan, a host on the National Crime Radio Channel, and Leticia Ruiz de Cruz of KMEX Television.

“This is an opportunity for parents to come together and learn more about how to keep their kids out of gangs,” said Nancy Zinberg, president of the La Habra City School District Board of Education and founder of Residents Against Gang Existence, the city’s anti-gang task force, which is sponsoring the evening.

Zinberg started RAGE two years ago in response to a drive-by shooting that occurred near one of the city’s elementary schools.

It provides support groups for parents whose children are already involved with gangs, and parenting classes for those who want to keep their children from joining gangs.

“Our goal is to help parents keep their kids thrilled about school, because we see education as the deterrent to gangs,” Zinberg said.

The forum will be presented in Spanish and English and will focus on keeping youngsters from joining gangs and freeing neighborhoods from the problems associated with gang activity, she added.

La Habra High School’s MECHA Club will provide free baby-sitting at the school’s library during the anti-gang forum, which will be held in the lecture hall at the school, at 801 N. Highland Ave.