Government, Faith & community face gang issues (Update)

The public is reminded that this evening, the Ministry of Public Safety will host a gang awareness town hall meeting at the Anglican Cathedral Hall from 6.00 p.m. to 8.30 p.m.

The Junior Minister of Public Safety, Sen. Jeffrey Baron, J.P, who serves as Chairperson for the Inter-Agency Gang Task Force will join members of Bermuda’s faith community to facilitate a roundtable discussion to generate a community response to gangs and violence.

The initiative, entitled “Change By Us”, will feature presentations by Mirrors Programme Coordinator, Kim Jackson, Family Centre’s Martha Dismont and representatives from the Bermuda Police Service and the Department of Child and Family Services.

Sen. Baron, who will give opening remarks this evening, stressed that the event is about bringing people together to address common concerns regarding gangs and anti-social behaviour.

Sen. Baron said, “It’s about engaging, empowering and energizing our community to take action. ‘Change By Us’ will provide the community with education and awareness of the reasons, reality and response to gangs in Bermuda - our ultimate goal here is reducing the influence gang lifestyles have on our youth and community.”

For more information contact 294-9291 or click HERE to see the flyer for more information.

The meeting will take place at the Anglican Cathedral Hall from 6.00 p.m. to 8.30 p.m.

The initiative, entitled “Change By Us”, will encompass a roundtable discussion to generate a community response to gangs and violence. Presenters for Monday’s meeting include Mirrors Programme Coordinator, Kim Jackson, Family Centre’s Martha Dismont and representatives from the Bermuda Police Service and the Department of Child and Family Services.

Sen. Baron, who will give opening remarks to Monday’s session, stressed that the event is about bringing people together to address common concerns regarding gangs and anti-social behaviour.

Sen. Baron said, “It’s about engaging, empowering and energizing our community to take action. Over the past five years there has been an increase in the gang activity in Bermuda.

“The Change By Us session will provide the community with education and awareness of the reasons, reality and response to gangs in Bermuda - our ultimate goal here is reducing the influence gang lifestyles have on our youth and community. Both Kim Jackson and Martha Dismont have worked tirelessly to make this happen - to use their community reach and influence to craft a forward-leaning initiative that will ultimately tease out valuable concerns and suggestions from our community. 

“This is our first planned meeting with more scheduled in the New Year. Essentially, we want the outcome of these meetings to empower a unified community-wide response to gangs in Bermuda. In fact, the intent is to activate a series of core community groups to continue the dialogue at the neighborhood level for a grass roots community action to respond to gangs.”

For more information, please contact Kim Jackson at 294-9291 or see attached flyer.