Oakland's Neighborhood Summit 2008 to address concerns about crime

OAKLAND — Residents facing gang violence and other illegal activities in their communities are invited to attend the Neighborhood Summit 2008 on Saturday. The event is organized by the city's Neighborhood Services Division and will be held 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. at Laney College, 200 Fallon St., Oakland. The goal of the summit is to address residents' concerns about crime and to educate them on how to be proactive. This year's theme is "My Block, My Community, My Responsibility." So far this year, Oakland has had 55 homicides, compared with 39 at the same time last year. "We will discuss what community policing means in Oakland," said Edith Guillen, a neighborhood services coordinator. The summit includes a variety of workshops based on ideas from residents and recent incidents involving crime that has affected neighborhoods. Some of the featured workshops will be Understanding and Recognizing Gang Activity, Youth Led Dialogue on Youth Culture and Violence, and Teen Prostitution. Other seminars include Personal Safety and Self-Defense and How to Build Strong, Cohesive Neighborhoods. Workshops will be translated in Spanish and Cantonese. The summit is the latest in an effort to help reduce crime. Last week, a citywide meeting at the Oakland Convention Center focusing on violence prevention and intervention brought out nearly 3,000 residents. Joseph Marshall, founder of the Omega Boys Club, is the summit's keynote speaker,Organizers say they are expecting the largest turnout for the summit since the event began in the 1990s.So far, more than 500 residents, nonprofit organizations, county representatives and church and school groups have signed up for the summit. Several Measure Y service providers, including California Youth Outreach, plan to attend.Summit organizers will hold a news conference today to promote the event and recognize residents doing good works in their neighborhoods. The news conference is scheduled for 10:30 a.m. at Laney College.Sandra Beal, chairwoman of the Garfield/Lower San Antonio Neighborhood Crime Prevention Council, said the purpose of the summit is also about community building. She said it's designed to give residents an opportunity to get to know one another and recognize the positive aspects of their community.and Oakland police Chief of Investigations Jeffrey Israel is the master of ceremonies. Mayor Ron Dellums and Oakland police Chief Wayne Tucker are special guests.SOURCE:OAKLAND TRIBUNE