What "Violence" concerns do we have in our community? 

Youth violence, our punishment systems are not working, a lack of respect and a need to rebuild that respect, violence becoming a learned behavior *, a need for anger control/management, the glorification of violence and the presence of violent role models, a lack of loyalty, a need to learn healthy relationships, media violence (TV, music, video games), parenting, a need to educate parents, stronger parent accountability, existing parenting classes aren’t drawing people in, domestic violence – violence in the home, the deterioration of neighborhoods, weak relationships/connections, apathy – neighbors are not responding, organization methods are not working, elder abuse (the population is increasing), drugs, and poverty.

What are we doing to combat these problems?

Neighborhood watch (existing issues with people not really committing to it and not reporting issues to law enforcement), protective services, mandated court parenting classes (free lessons available yet people are not attending), crime victim reparations, zero tolerance,                        

What do we need to accomplish our goals?

More active community members and leaders, “Neighbor on neighbor” – communities to work together and hold each other accountable, bottom-up organizing, education, teaching parents to be accountable (i.e., how to handle children and a job), early intervention for at-risk youths, a detailed and well circulated catalogue of referrals and resources, inter-agency networking (United Way has something),   

Goals/Plans:

Neighbors on Neighbors - the revitalization of neighborhoods - community building, parents involving themselves more in their children’s lives/activities, parents knowing how to speak to their children and what exactly to say, researching successful communities (i.e., w/ working neighborhood watches); how did they organize/begin?  Obtain their models, The creation of constructive activities for youth and neighborhoods, “Dad’s Days” – 2 schools currently participate – are they successful?, education – parents - teachers, educating – teens, find youth role models to use as resources, *Basketball coach at Westgate might have contacts, military personnel, Lynette Robinson, Resolve & Solve Program (model at Anderson Middle), youth organizing, teen summit, youth expo (annual), STAR program (Students Taking Action), teen pregnancy, drinking, hands on activities, familiarization of local law enforcement. 

At the Next meeting:

1)         Elmire Brennan will have representatives from the Shelton Loop Association speak on the work that they are doing to revitalize their neighborhood and how they can share their work with the Ann Street people.

2)         Darlene French will research and report about the success or lack of success of an Iberia school board program called "Resolve and Solve".

 The next meeting was tentatively scheduled for February 15, 2006 from 12:00 noon to 1:30 p.m.