7-11-05 Mark your calendar: API YOUTH VIOLENCE Conference

This is a Statewide Dialogue on Asian and Pacific Islander Youth Violence sponsored by California State Attorney General Bill Lockyer and a consortium of organizations, public officials, and individuals throughout California. The Dialogue will take place at the Sacramento Convention Center from 9am to 4:30pm, on Wednesday, August 17, 2005 (registration begins at 8am).

Asian and Pacific Islander (API) youth are both the victims and the perpetrators of violence representing conflict within and outside their respective ethnic groups. What is clear about these incidents is that although they are occurring throughout the state, they could be happening in our own neighborhoods. Consider the following incidents:

• Five Chinese youth in San Francisco were brutally beaten and harassed with racial slurs by 15 to 20 white male teenagers, only one of whom was identified, prosecuted, and found guilty of two felony and one misdemeanor hate crimes. (see http://www.asianlawcaucus.org/newsletter/oct_2004_72.pdf)

• A young Hmong male was shot and killed as he waited to make a left-hand turn in Sacramento; a Hmong female has been arrested as the driver of the car from which several gunmen emerged to commit the homicide (Sacramento Bee, February 28, 2005, and April 12, 2005).

• Shootings and fights in San Mateo County among Tongan youth have resulted in a community effort to help keep Tongan youth out of gangs and out of trouble (San Francisco Chronicle, February 27, 2005).In the city of Lennox in Southern California, young Tongan adults were shot in front of the Sheriff’s office (April 2005).

Through this Dialogue we hope to identify the needs of youth and their families, understand law enforcement responses, voice the concerns of community members, and begin to examine approaches that can stop the violence. Although gangs are part of the dialogue on API youth violence, this is not specifically an Asian gang conference.

You are invited to be part of a discussion that addresses the diversity of API groups and their specific needs and issues. Participants will include youth, community members, advocates, law enforcement, legislators, media, and foundations.

The day will begin in the morning with speakers and an overview of API youth violence throughout the state. Tentative workshops topics include API Youth Victimization, Law Enforcement Responses to API Youth Violence, Collaborations Between Faith Based Organizations and Law Enforcement, School-based Mediation Programs, and What to Do When Your Child is Arrested. There will also be a concurrent Youth Program focusing on issues such as Youth Organizing, Conflict Resolution and Mediation, and Know Your Rights. The Dialogue will be concluded with a reconvening of participants for a summary of the workshop sessions and a discussion on the necessary next steps. A continental breakfast and light lunch will be provided.

Please e-mail SpeakAsianAmericans if you need (free) transportation !