Resource booths offer alternatives for at-risk families
Hollister’s gang task advisory board members are once again
inviting the public to learn more about the issue with gangs in the
county Wednesday, Oct. 17, at Veterans Memorial Hall.
Resource booths offer alternatives for at-risk families
Hollister’s gang task advisory board members are once again inviting the public to learn more about the issue with gangs in the county Wednesday, Oct. 17, at Veterans Memorial Hall. While last year’s forum focused on trends, such as the decrease in age of when children first get involved in gangs to signs that a child is involved in gang activity, this year will offer information on what parents can do to keep kids out of gangs or get them out of gangs.
“This year we are trying to evolve into parental rights and responsibilities – to build a healthy family,” said Rosie Betanio, the public information officer for the Hollister Police Department. “If they know the rights that come with being a parent we can assist them with raising their children.”
The forum will feature a keynote speaker as well as resource booths with local organizations that can help families. Last year nearly 300 people showed up and this year the advisory board members hope to see even more people from the community.
The goal is “to give parents tools, and also children,” Betanio said. “We can give them tools to build a better family.”
Many of the organizations involved in the resource fair offer services that can prevent children from joining a gang in the first place. Some of the groups that will have booths include Community Pantry, the San Benito County Library, Esperanza Center and the local YMCA. Other groups are geared toward families that have already experienced violence such as Emmaus House, the local women’s shelter, or Victory Outreach, which works with former gang members.
Lazarus Rios, a pastor at Victory Outreach in Hollister, has been working with former gang members through his ministry for years.
The forum is an opportunity to inform parents and young people about gang enhancement laws, Rios said.
“It’s important because with the new gang enhancement law, these young people are facing 35 to 50 years – some even get 80 years,” Rios said. “If we can make them aware, the choices they are going to make might be different.”
Rios is familiar with the reasons children join gangs.
“We’ve found when a young person has no stability, that can mean from food to shelter to care, they tend to go out into the streets to find it,” Rios said. “All the resources that can come to the table give that person or youngster a chance to find out that someone does care.”
Since the last forum, Rios said he has been going out into the community on a regular basis to meet with people.
“I was out there once myself,” he said. “And I know what it is to have someone knock on my door and put a .38 in my hand, but I also know that change can happen.”
During the presentation, parents will get tips on how they can keep their kids from joining or participating in gangs, and laws around it.
“They should know because its possible one of their kids, sons or even daughters, will end up in prison for the rest of their lives,” Rios said. “If you know, you are going to do everything possible to get help.”
