Valleywide : YWCA to Coordinate Anti-Crime Events

The YWCA of Greater Los Angeles has entered the home stretch as it gears up to help launch the nationwide “Week Without Violence,” which will run from Oct. 15 to 21.

“We will challenge people to take the first steps, during this week, to make the vision of peace in our communities a reality,” said Laverne Minor, facility coordinator and team leader at the YWCA of Greater Los Angeles, located in San Fernando.

“The idea is to get people to commit to spending one week focusing on alternatives to the epidemic of violence,” Minor said.

A different activity is planned for each day of the week. Panel discussions, forums and talks will focus on curbing child abuse, domestic violence and gang warfare, among other social ills. In addition, building self-esteem and empowering community and family members will be emphasized.

“We really need people to be aware that this week is happening, and to participate,” Minor said, noting that a press conference held two weeks ago at the Los Angeles Police Department’s training academy may have given people the mistaken impression that the “Week Against Violence” was already in progress.

Speakers at the press conference, which was held just after the tragic drive-by shooting murder of 3-year-old Stephanie Kuhen in Cypress Park, “made it sound like the week was already taking place,” Minor said.

Agencies and Valley organizations participating in the upcoming events include the Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department, Los Angeles Police Department, San Fernando Police Department, Southern California Coalition on Battered Women, Cal State Northridge, Mission College, Boys & Girls Club of the San Fernando Valley, Community Gang Services, El Proyecto del Barrio and San Fernando Middle School.

For more information, call (818) 365-9141.