CORPUS CHRISTI'S TASK FORCE ON YOUTH VIOLENCE

The Task Force on Youth Violence of the City of Corpus Christi was the outgrowth of a conference put together by Melody Cooper, a member of the Corpus Christi city council. The conference was held on March 2, 1996, and was designed to facilitate the examination of the youth violence problem in Corpus Christi, and to discuss possible solutions to that problem.

At the conference, various community leaders spoke on the issue of youth violence. Social service representatives gave presentations on what programs their agencies offered to address the issue, and there were discussions by the attendees, which included parents, children and public officials.

Because of the positive response to the conference, Ms. Cooper requested that the mayor create a new TASK FORCE ON YOUTH VIOLENCE. Melody Cooper was named chairperson of the group, which meets on a monthly basis.

In April of 1996, the group announced the creation of a new fund which could accept donations to help combat youth violence. These monies are distributed periodically in the form of grants to grass roots organizations which reach out to at risk youths. A committee of task force members distributes funds after grant requests are reviewed.

Numerous fund-raising events of various kinds are held to help fund the account. Events such as the "WASH OUT THE VIOLENCE" sponsored by the CARISMA WASH, a local business, show how business, government and individuals can bond together and end the violence. CARISMA raised over $5000.00. Ms. Cooper also spear-headed the drive to raise over $6000..00 in donations from local attorneys in Corpus.

The Corpus Christi Police Department and the task force cooperated along with community volunteers in October of 1996 in a "PAINT OUT THE VIOLENCE DAY". In November, the task force awarded six $1000.00 grants to: ABOVE AND BEYOND FAMILY CRISIS AND GANG STATUS, COASTAL BEND HOCKEY ASSOCIATION, G-BOYZ AND G-GIRLZ, NEW LIFE, SOUTHSIDE GULF COAST GIRL'S FASTPITCH LEAGUE, AND THE TEJANO ACADEMY OF FINE ARTS.

The next project for the task force was the compilation of the new GUIDE TO SOME OF THE COMMUNITY ORGANIZATIONS THAT ADDRESS YOUTH VIOLENCE. The booklet, which has been made available free of charge to anyone who requests it, contains the addresses, telephone numbers, and contact persons of agencies and organizations which offer programs which address youth violence. This was the first time that an effort has been made in Corpus Christi to collect all of this information in one publication., The book has been revised once, and continues to be revised as new organization, particularly on the grass roots level, are discovered.

On December 2, 1996, after many months of production, Melody Cooper presented a new video on youth violence called Searching For Solutions. The video, produced and narrated by Ms. Cooper, details the signs of youth gang involvement, contains testimony by former gang members, contains a presentation by officers of the Corpus Christi Police Department Juvenile Enforcement Team, and contains a presentation by a psychologist on the root causes of gang involvement. Over one hundred requests for the video have been made and filled free of charge.

On December 19, 1996, a candlelight memorial and concert for the victims of gang violence in the Corpus Christi community was held by the Task Force. Members of some of the families who lost children in 1996 to drive-by shootings were in attendance, along with members of the task force and community members.

On December 20, 1996, the Corpus Christi Board of Trade contributed the amount of $6,800.00 to the Fund. The Board of Trade Industries, which includes the major industrial companies in the Corpus Christi area, were targeted and solicited by the Task Force for this purpose.

The next series of grants was given out by the Task Force on February 3, 1997. Four $1000.00 grants were given to the following organizations: Cross Connection, G.A.N.G. (God's Anointed Now Generation), Project Discoveries, and the Tejano Academy of Fine Arts.

On February 23, 1997, a youth rally was held at Ben Garza Gym in Corpus Christi entitled the "Peace, Live it or Rest in it" Youth Rally. Steve Nawojczyk returned with a hard-hitting program specific to youths over age twelve. Alternative activities were arranged for children under twelve. Musical groups also performed for the event.

On March 11, 1997, the Task Force announced that the amount of $6,050.00 had been raised from attorneys in the Corpus Christi area for the Fund. A request was made for further submissions of grant applications for these funds.

The next focus of the Task Force will be on creating a youth council, made up of three students from each high school in the area. The purpose of the youth council is to get the input from young people about what works and doesn't work in tackling the issue of gang violence.

For more information contact Melody Cooper at 2801 Santa Fe, Corpus Christi, TX 78413. Telephone number (512) 887-8014, or fax number (512) 887-4956.