The launch of the inaugural Gang Awareness and Prevention Summit
for anti-gang awareness
BRAWLEY — Mothers and Men Against Gangs Coalition a September Mixer at the Elks Lodge No. 1420 to announce the inaugural Gang Awareness and Prevention Summit this winter.
Scheduled for Jan. 5-7, the summit is slated as a GAP4ALL benefit to mark the fifth anniversary of the tragic murder of Martin Alberto Garza, the son of MAG founder and President Yulil Alonso-Garza.
Martin was slain by a gang member in January 2013. MAG founded that month was launched to create a non-violent community and help heal victims of violent crimes.
Thursday was also an occasion to alert the community to Assembly Concurrent Resolution 134, introduced by Assemblyman Eduardo Garcia (D-56th) in joint resolution with Sen. Ben Hueso (D-40th), to the Assembly on Sept. 1 that will declare statewide, January as Gang Awareness and Prevention Month.
ACR 134 will be assigned an Assembly committee that Alonso-Garza will address either before the end of the current session this month or in January in Sacramento, on the importance of gang awareness.
“We’re really excited now it’s part of a statewide resolution with Martin’s name on it, so we’ll know his legacy will live on,” said Alonso-Garza.
Cooperating on this effort with MAG are Elks Lodge No. 1420, which Martin Garza is the exalted leader yet represented by Amanda Barraza, head of trustees, Thursday. Also, collaborating, Victor Jaime, superintendent/president of Imperial Valley College and Stella Jimenez, field representative of Assemblyman Garcia.
Speaking on behalf of Garcia, Jimenez noted MAG made significant strides to transform the community to create a safer and more vibrant community for local neighborhoods and their families. “Assemblyman Garcia extends his profound support to the MAG Coalition and their efforts to stem youth violence,” said Jimenez.
Jaime noted since IVC is the county’s only higher learning institution and it closely aligns itself with kindergarten through 12th grade schools and events that affect the entire community. Back when agent Kiki Camarena, an agent of the Drug Enforcement Administration was murdered and the Red Ribbon Coalition was formed to get students to commit to lead drug free lives, IVC was one of the first partners of the Red Ribbon Week.
“One area we focused on was gang affiliation and the key was education and awareness among our youth,” said Jaime. “So when this (unfortunate) opportunity came we felt compelled to join the effort to educate and bring more awareness and hopefully eradicate violence in our community.”
Barraza remarked the Elks are excited and humbled to join MAG in their efforts to help drug prevention. “Our motto: we protect our members and their families,” said Barraza. “When you join the Elks you become a member of the family. And we feel a strong desire to reach out to youth and their families.”
For more information go to the MAG Coalition Facebook page /MAGCoalition