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Local groups involved in Everett mayor's youth, gang efforts

The Daily Herald - 2/24/2019

I would like to compliment Everett Mayor Cassie Franklin's Youth and Gang Reduction Initiative. In particular, I am in full support of her emphasis on prevention, intervention and collaboration with community partners. Prevention is a cornerstone philosophy for Boys & Girls Clubs of Snohomish County and for other local organizations such as Scouts, YMCA, Campfire and local youth athletic programs.

From the beginning of Franklin's effort to address youth gang violence, we have been welcome participants in the planning process for strategies to engage youth and prevent gang violence in our communities. We appreciate that opportunity to share our knowledge, experience and resources.

As a result of that work, and in partnership with the City of Everett and the Everett Police Department, our organization has dedicated a full-time staff member to work with the police department's Gang Prevention and Intervention Officer to implement two new prevention and intervention programs created by the city: PAY and PIVOT.

Boys & Girls Clubs have also partnered with the city in other prevention and intervention efforts. These include informal daily visits to clubs by police officers, a partnership with the police department for their annual summer Casino Road soccer camp, and participation by many Everett officers in our Badges For Baseball summer camp. Through these programs and mentoring efforts Everett officers develop positive relations with hundreds of youth and families from the diverse community our clubs serve.

Franklin's efforts to reduce youth gang violence through prevention and intervention is the correct approach. Prevention is hard to measure but the city's efforts will pay dividends going forward.

Bill Tsoukalas

Boys & Girls Clubs of Snohomish County