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Blog archive

October 2024

September 2024

August 2024

1619 Wide Ranging Interests
08/19/2024

1619 Wide Ranging Interests
08/19/2024

First Anniversary
08/19/2024

Alexandra Leaving by Leonard Cohen
08/16/2024

Muse des Beaux Arts by W. H. Auden
08/16/2024

The God Abandons Antony by Constantinos P. Cavafy
08/16/2024

Ch – Ch – Ch –Changes
08/15/2024

Cultural Activities Team offers an ‘embarrassment of riches’
08/15/2024

Engaging in Pasadena Village
08/15/2024

Future Housing Options
08/15/2024

Message from the President
08/15/2024

There Are Authors Among Us
08/15/2024

Villagers Welcome New Members at the Tournament Park Picnic
08/15/2024

Do Not Go Gentle Into That Good Night by Dylan Thomas
08/14/2024

A narrow Fellow in the Grass by Emily Dickinson
08/13/2024

Haikus
08/13/2024

One Art by Elizabeth Bishop
08/13/2024

Poem 20 by Pablo Neruda
08/13/2024

Still I Rise by Maya Angelou
08/13/2024

Trees by Joyce Kilmer
08/13/2024

July 2024

June 2024

May 2024

Emergency Preparedness: Are You Ready?
05/28/2024

Farewell from the 2023/24 Social Work Interns
05/28/2024

Gina on the Horizon
05/28/2024

Mark Your Calendars for the Healthy Aging Research California Virtual Summit
05/28/2024

Meet Our New Development Associate
05/28/2024

Putting the Strategic Plan into Practice
05/28/2024

Washington Park: Pasadena’s Rediscovered Gem
05/28/2024

Introducing Civil Rights Discussions
05/22/2024

Rumor of Humor #2416
05/14/2024

Rumor of Humor #2417
05/14/2024

Rumor of Humor #2417
05/14/2024

Rumor of Humor #2418
05/14/2024

Springtime Visitors
05/07/2024

Freezing for a Good Cause – Credit, That Is
05/02/2024

No Discussion Meeting on May 3rd
05/02/2024

An Apparently Normal Person Author Presentation and Book-signing
05/01/2024

Flintridge Center: Pasadena Village’s Neighbor That Changes Lives
05/01/2024

Pasadena Celebrates Older Americans Month 2024
05/01/2024

The 2024 Pasadena Village Volunteer Appreciation Lunch
05/01/2024

Woman of the Year: Katy Townsend
05/01/2024

April 2024

March 2024

February 2024

January 2024

Addressing Gang Violence in Pasadena-Altadena

By Richard Myers
Posted: 02/21/2024
Tags: gangs, violence, prevention
The 1619, Lingering Imprint Discussion Group met Feb. 16, 2024 at 12:00 PM PST.  The group had a presentation by Ricky Pickens, a Gang Outreach Intervention Coordinator.  The meeting was recorded and is available on the Pasadena Village Youtube channel.
 
Mr. Pickens began by addressing a question from a community member asking why he was presenting to a group of elders about gangs.  He shared his reply, everyone in the community is effected by gangs in some way.
 
Mr. Pickens shared some brief biographical information. In 2004, he was hired by the Pasadena Police Department to work in gang intervention.  Gang activity had increased in the city beginning in 1999 and in response the Intervention Unit was formed.  Mr. Pickens was born and grew up in Pasadena and was very familiar with the communities effected by the rise in gang related activity.
 
In 2020, there was an increase in the number of gang shootings and Gang Outreach Workers and Violence Interruptors were added by Steve Mermill, then City Manager.  This group worked behind the scenes to stop violence before it happens.  The approach used is to work at the street level, mediate conflicts, manage anger through peer mentoring, offer support for day to day coping and develop personal relationships.
 
The focus is on prevention, intervention and referral.  An emphasis is placed on job training and employment.
 
In Pasadena 10 percent of black gang members and 5 percent of Latino gang members are considered hard core members.  These individuals commit most of the violence. The remaining members are affiliated but do not engage in retaliation or other violent acts.
 
Mr. Pickens then shared trends in the gang community beginning with the amount of gang related violence.  Gang related violence is more prevalent in urban areas, 67 percent, with suburban areas reporting 17 percent.  Gangs are also involved in human trafficking with almost 50 percent of the crime related to trafficking, most involving females.  The most common crimes are home invasion, smash and grab, strong arm robbery and social media scams.
 
Mr. Pickens next discussed how Pasadena Village could help support intervention efforts indicating resources and advocacy were critical. In addition to monetary assistance, donations, gift cards,referrals for employment were valuable. 
 
Mr. Pickens concluded by answering attended questions.
 
The next meeting of the group will by March 1st at 10 AM PST. We will see another Conversation with Art, presented by Helane Rhinegold. The focus of the presentation will be on "Blacks Portrayed by Euopean Artists Through the Centuries."  Helane has done a number of presentations for us which you can findon  our Youtube channel. They are always conversational and very engaing and informative. It's fun to be present!
 
Guests are welcome at these zoom presentations. Please call our office at (626) 765-6037 for more information and to get the link for the meeting on March 1st.
 
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