Gang & Youth Violence Prevention & Intervention

The City of Alexandria is supportive and serious about preventing violence and gang involvement. In fact, all local governments in the Washington, D.C., metropolitan region are working together to address these issues. Although the City of Alexandria has experienced a relatively low amount of criminal activity by gang members, gangs are a reality for any municipality to address; not only to suppress criminal gang activity, but to prevent people from joining gangs in the first place and to intervene with actual gang members, helping them to end their association.

This website is intended to be a useful resource for our community and, as you will see, there is something for everyone; whether you are a young person looking for a job or an activity, a parent looking for some tips or support, a staff member looking for resources for a client or an interested community resident looking for information or mentoring opportunities.

Read on to learn about the teamwork of the Northern Virginia Regional Gang Task Force, the Alexandria Senior Policy Work Group on Gangs and the Alexandria Gang Prevention Community Task Force. See Summit and Community Involvement and the list of numbers and resources in WHERE TO GO FOR HELP and more!

Thanks for visiting and please check back for future updates!

What's New

• Year Up is a free, one-year, full-time professional training, education and internship program for 18-24 year olds with a High School Diploma or GED. Within four months of program completion, 87% of Year Up graduates are working in professional positions earning an average hourly wage of $17.69 per hour or are enrolled in college full-time. Registration for the fall semester is now with open houses scheduled through May 25. Please contact Courtnye Lloyd for more information: 703.474.3941, clloyd@yearup.org.

• The 4th Annual Youth Arts and Father's Day Festival of Alexandria will take place on Saturday, June 8th starting at 12 until 4pm. The festival will be held at the George Washington Middle School (Braddock Road Field), click here for more information.

• SOHO—Space of Her Own program orientations will be held on Tuesday, May 21 from5:30-7:30 p.m. to orient prospective volunteers to the program, the mentor commitment and the application process. Click here to register. SOHO is an creative mentorship program that serves pre-teen girls by providing yearlong mentoring through engagement in life skills instruction, creative art activities and meaningful community service projects. Each volunteer mentor makes a one-year commitment to the program, which fosters long-term relationships and culminates in the renovation of each girl's bedroom, HGTV-style. SOHO utilizes evidence-based life skills curricula and the National Mentoring Partnership's model program guidelines. SOHO operates from September – June from following two Alexandria locations: The Art League’s Madison Annex on Tuesday evenings and on the West End of Alexandria (location and meeting times to be determined). To learn more about SOHO, please visit www.spaceofherown.org. E-mail questions to SOHO@spaceofherown.org.

• Fathers In Touch Launches New 24/7 Dad Parenting Class (Starting May 14th)
  The class by Capital Youth Empowerment Program (which will meet weekly from 6:30-9 p.m. at the Charles Houston Recreation Center) enriches the lives of children by helping fathers become teachers and role models for their children. Dinner is free to all participants and the program features monthly activities with children. Registration and referral forms are available online. Call Erick King (202.321.8704) or Everette “Boobie” Mitchell (240.676.7903) for additional information.

• Computer CORE is now accepting applications! Classes last for 6 months, and provide computer skills to those who attend.  Click here for information on application process, locations and contact information.
• Sheriff's Office Hosts Graduation Ceremony, Certifications. Fourteen inmates received their GED certificates while seven other inmates were recognized for earning ServSafe Food Protection Manager certification.  Read all about it here!
• On June 16, 2012, we had our 7^th annual soccer tournament sponsored by The Arlington Gang Task Force who partnered with The Arlington Soccer Association.  Check out the link to see the action!
• As a follow up to the success of Virginia’s first anti-gang video, 'The Wrong Family,' the Office of the Attorney General identified a need to create a video for kids.  After careful collaboration with law enforcement and psychologists, ‘The Big Lie’ was produced to expose the dark reality of gangs preying upon our children through lies and manipulation.  The video is a frank and unscripted documentary and presents an extraordinary opportunity for pre- and early teens to learn about the false promises gang members make to lure them into their ranks.  The video features gang members, law enforcement, and children who speak directly to the audience about gang recruiting methods, specific ways kids can avoid joining a gang, and most importantly, lifestyle choices to help them stay away from gangs. Check out 'The Big Lie: Unmasking the Truth Behind Gangs' here: in English and in Spanish.
• Click here to read an interesting article about an anti-gang video game created by George Mason students.
• Warehouse Hiring event click for more information.
• Goodwill Career Navigation Program, a 3 week job readiness course.  Intake assessments held every Tuesday and Thursday at 9:00 a.m., located at Arlington Career Center.  For more information, click here.
• Youth Topics is a service of the Center for Children and Families, Department of Community and Human Services, City of Alexandria. Youth Topics is posted online here. 
• Did You Know???
  Important information about gang crimes, properties used in gang crimes, and other gang related matters.

• New ACPS Resource Guide for Students Now Available
  The T.C. Williams High School Student Resource Guide 2011 is now available online for students and parents. The resource guide is a comprehensive document that offers academic resources, scholarships, financial aid, internships, and summer opportunities that students and parents can explore together. ACPS is committed to providing students with the tools they need to succeed. The resource guide is available to support students (and parents) in identifying resources to help you realize your goals.
  
  Student Resource Guide (PDF) 
  
  For additional information, please contact the T.C. Williams Counseling Department at 703-578-6250 or patricia.braun@acps.k12.va.us. The resource guide will be available online in Spanish soon.

• Resource Guide for Children, Youth & Families 
  The Resource Guide for Alexandria's Children, Youth & Families is an inventory of resources that promote youth well-being in the City of Alexandria, Virginia. The Guide is a tool that acquaints parents, youth, and service providers with an array of educational, health, social service, and recreation opportunities provided by City, non-profit, and community organizations.
• Gang Prevention Brochure
  Resources for gang prevention information and support in your area of Northern Virginia.
  See program brochure