WBTV 3 News, Weather, Sports, and Traffic for Charlotte, NC-Teen Summit aims to open dialogue about gangs and violence in Charlotte

Teen Summit aims to open dialogue about gangs and violence in Charlotte

By Dedrick Russell - bio l email

CHARLOTTE, NC (WBTV) - The Grier Heights community is tackling gang activity in their east Charlotte neighborhood.

Two gang prevention programs took place Thursday night.

One was held at the Naomi Drenan Recreation Center and the other was at the Villa Courts Apartment complex.

Both programs focused on giving teens an opportunity to have a frank and open discussion about gangs.

Andrea Long sponsored the gang prevention program at the Villa Courts.

She is making it her mission to fight gangs because police told her a gang member shot and killed her two sons last year.

"We have to fight back because these communities belong to us," Long said. "They belong to our kids and we have to show them we will no longer stand for the gang violence."

Click on the red camera icon to see more of our story with Long.

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(The following information is from the Mecklenburg County Parks and Recreation.)

CHARLOTTE, NC - Teens speak out about gangs and talk frankly about how to prevent violence. Many young people have thoughtful and incisive ideas about these problems, which are the topic of in the next of a series of "Teen Summits: Youth Against Violence and Gangs,"on Thursday evening April 9, 2009, 5:30-8pm at Naomi Drenan Recreation Center, 750 Beal Street. The event invites teens and parents to come and participate.

These Teen Summits are for boys and girls, ages 11-17.  The series scheduled has intensified now with one discussion a month from now through November.

With gang activity on the rise, Mecklenburg County Park and Recreation, Parent University of Charlotte Mecklenburg Schools, and WPEG-FM, Power 98 have organized the series of  Teen Summits to continue open and honest dialogue with teens. Additional Teen Summits are scheduled for 5:30pm-8pm at the following dates and locations

• May 14: Ivory-Baker Recreation Center, 1920 Stroud Park Ct.
• June 13: Hickory Grove Recreation Center, 6709 Pence Rd.
• July 9: Sugar Creek Recreation Center, 943 West Sugar Creek Rd.
• August 13: Arbor Glen Recreation Center, 1520 Clanton Rd.
• September 10: Bette Rae Recreation Center, 2921 Tuckaseegee Rd.
• October 8: Methodist Home Recreation Center, 3200 Shamrock Dr.
• November 12: Tuckaseegee Recreation Center, 4820 Tuckaseegee Rd.

Each summit will focus on resolving issues facing teens such as gangs, dating violence, substance abuse, and providing teens a voice to articulate issues in their community. Radio personalities from WPEG-FM, Power 98 will moderate the events: Janine Davis, No Limit Larry and Tone X from the Morning Madhouse radio show.  These teen summits are important because many parents, community advocates and leaders ask why our teens act so poorly. But seldom do adults and leaders reach out to teens to get answers from THEM. The summits create this opportunity for a real dialogue.

This activity supports Mecklenburg County's strategic goal to improve/expand parks, open spaces, greenways and recreational activities.