Panorama City : Grant to Expand Anti-Gang Program

An anti-gang and drug prevention program for youths who live on Blythe Street in Panorama City--known as one of the toughest streets in the San Fernando Valley--will be significantly expanded, thanks to a $1-million grant awarded by a Washington, D.C.-based foundation.

The grant, awarded in December to the nonprofit San Fernando Valley Partnership, targets “at-risk” teens and their families, said Albert Melena, who helped organize the partnership’s Blythe Street Youth Leadership program nearly four years ago.

“It’s a grant for high-risk kids at the elementary and middle school ages,” Melena said. “Once a child is referred to the program, we’ll work with the entire family--that’s the uniqueness of the program.”

The Blythe Street Prevention Project is designed to build on the success of the youth leadership program and will help 40 families a year over a three-year period, Melena said.

The program includes tutoring, organized recreation and sports activities, leadership and “resistance-building” to teach youths to stay away from drugs and gangs.

The program also includes parenting, advocacy and leadership classes for adults. A case-manager will be assigned to each family to ensure it receives needed services, Melena said.

Youths and families will be referred to the program through schools and the Los Angeles Police Department’s Jeopardy youth project.

The project, which should begin by mid-March, will be headquartered on Blythe Street, Melena said. For more information, call the San Fernando Valley Partnership at (818) 837-7767.