Group Finalizes Community Plan

Ten months after it was formed in response to the Los Angeles riots, Orange County Together is poised to release an “action plan” that organizers hope will foster mutual understanding and respect among Orange County residents.

The plan, the product of numerous community meetings in which people from around the county expressed their views, is scheduled to be released sometime in May.

Members of the group met last week to finalize the details of the plan, which will examine ways to improve economic opportunities and relations among ethnic groups.

“Obviously, there are no easy solutions to the things we are looking at,” said Hector E. Lopez, senior consultant and coordinator for Orange County Together. “The key is bringing people together from different levels of the community--the police, the church, the schools, different community groups.”

The action plan contains about two dozen suggestions. They include:

* Having representatives from local law enforcement agencies meet with residents to develop community policing programs throughout the county. Such programs allow police officers to meet with the residents and help both sides “understand (each other) instead of working out of ignorance,” Lopez said.

* Establishing multicultural centers where “differences are celebrated” and people can learn about other cultures.

* Organizing “pride festivals” for different segments of the community. Lopez said such festivals “break some of the stereotypes that exist.”

* Providing schools with a curriculum and materials that teach students about tolerance and cultural diversity.

* Organizing community meetings to discuss hate crimes and what residents can do to prevent them.

* Encouraging economic development in poor areas and urging businesses to recruit employees from underrepresented groups.

Orange County Together officials said they hope that people will take a serious look at the recommendations when they are presented and begin implementing them.

“We often hear people say, ‘We want to help, but what can we do?’ ” Lopez said. “Now we can say, ‘Here are some possibilities.’ ”

Orange County Together is a broad-based group with more than 70 members from all walks of life. The group includes doctors, lawyers, business people, educators, police officers, religious leaders and community organizers.

The group was formed last summer in an attempt to address some of the social, political and economic problems brought to the forefront by the Los Angeles riots.

It is funded by the United Way and is associated with the Orange County Human Relations Commission.