To report gang activity in Dona Ana County (800) 260-0911 county-wide, or (575) 526-0795
FRIDAY, DECEMBER 14, 2007
We (Girl Scouts) are having an event in Anthony, New Mexico on December 14th from 3-6 pm at St. Anthony Hall 224 Lincoln Avenue. We are inviting the local elementary schools and residents. Our theme is Girls Just Want to Have Fun. We will be doing crafts, making a special gift and learning The Girl Scout Way (making s'mores, learning GS handshake, etc).
Lily Mata; Membership Development Executive; Girl Scouts of the Rio Grande
9700 Girl Scout Way; El Paso, TX 79924 T 915-566-9433 F 915-565-1500
DECEMBER 2007
Jr. Marines of Anthony meets regularly at
530 Clark St., Anthony,
NM 88021. Boys and girls twelve to seventeen years of age can participate in the program to develop the attributes of character and physical stamina as exemplified by the U.S Marine Corps. Call Pastor Juan Acevedo for information (505) 882-2542. Click here for Junior Marines - Anthony, New Mexico program overview flier.
POSTPONED INDEFINITELY 11/26/07 - reschedule date to be posted soon Anthony Residents for Community Action (ARCA) holds its 12/1/07 "ANTHONY: The Streets Belong To Us!" 10 pm curfew ordinance initiative march through the streets of Anthony, New Mexico. Marchers will meet at 9:30 p.m., will receive safety and protocol instructions, will sign a Signatures of Support document, and will then march at exactly 10 p.m. through a designated marching route. The march is being held to bring attention to the need for community unity and vigilance in light of two recent two gang-related homicides and an upsurge in graffiti and late-night criminal activity in the area. The march is intended to additionally signal to the Dona Ana County Board of Commissioner's the community's support for a 10 p.m. curfew. Participants from all parts of the Paso Del Norte regions (El Paso, Juarez, Las Cruces and Dona Ana County South Valley) are invited to take part in the march. Marchers will wear a white clothing item with the number "10", will carry flashlights and small placards with the words "It's 10 o'clock. Do you know where your children are?" Participants, who will march in groups of 10, are additionally asked to bring along bells and whistles during the course of the march through a designated section of the town. At the end of the march, local clergy will make a call to the participants to seek unity, build community and look out for each other. The Dona Ana County Sheriff's Department will have patrol vehicles and personnel ensuring the safety of marchers and signalling support of the curfew intiative. Students from area schools will be encouraged through a series of contests to develop related posters and logos. Inquiries about the curfew march can be directed to Rob Gallardo, Curfew Committee Coordinator at either (505) 201-4365 or (505) 346-0679.
TUESDAY, OCTOBER 23, 2007
Anthony Residents for Community Action (ARCA) meets at 6:00 p.m. to continue discussion on the development of a Neighborhood Watch Group and to draw up plans to curtail gang activity in the Anthony, New Mexico area. The group will also further discuss plans for its 12/1/07 "ANTHONY: The Streets Belong To Us!" curfew ordinance initiative march through the streets of Anthony, New Mexico.
ARCA hopes to have a curfew ordinance strategy presented to Dona Ana County Commissioner's soon. The group is also looking into the practicality of establishing a gang injunction in the Anthony, NM vicinity. Interested community residents, business owners and municipal employees, social service representatives are urged to participate. For meeting details contact JC Fernandez at (915) 478-7889
THURSDAY, SEPTEMBER 27, 2007
The Anthony Action Group has selected the name of
Residents for Community Action. The group is planning a a "Take Back Our Streets" march in late October. The march will be held to remind the community that the streets belong to the them, not to gangsters. The march will also serve to highlight the RAC's interest in instituting a curfew ordinance in Dona Ana County. Interested parties are urged to contact Rob Gallardo (505) 201-4365.
THURSDAY, SEPTEMBER 27, 2007
Anthony Action Group (AAG) meets at 6:00 p.m. to continue discussion on the development of a Neighborhood Watch Group and to draw up plans to curtail gang activity in the Anthony, New Mexico area. Special guest Mary Ellen Hernandez, Director of Rio Grande Safe Communities Coalition, will be present with RGSCC associate Marge Bartoletti to discuss that agency's strategy in getting a curfew ordinance established in El Paso, Texas. The AAG hopes to have a curfew ordinance strategy presented to Dona Ana County Commissioner's soon. The group is also looking into the practicality of establishing a gang injunction in the Anthony, NM vicinity. The AAG will also select a mission statement and name. Interested community residents, business owners and municipal employees, social service representatives are urged to participate. For meeting details contact JC Fernandez at (915) 478-7889
THURSDAY, SEPTEMBER 13, 2007
Anthony Action Group (AAG) meets at 6:00 p.m. to continue discussion on the development of a Neighborhood Watch Group and to draw up plans to curtail gang activity in the Anthony, New Mexico area. Interested community residents, business owners and municipal employees, social service representatives are urged to participate. For meeting details contact JC Fernandez at (915) 478-7889
WEDNESDAY, AUGUST 29, 2007
The Anthony Action Group (AAG) met to initiate discussion on the development of a Neighborhood Watch Group and to draw up plans to curtail gang activity in the Anthony, New Mexico area. The group elected Anthony, NM resident JC Fernandez AAG Coordinator. Irma Fernandez was elected group Secretary. Victor Montoya was elected Sergeant-at-Arms. The meeting was also attended by Dona Ana County Sheriff's Deputy Robert Hernandez, Dona Ana County Sheriff's Deputy Jon R. Day, Pastors Juan and Sara Acevedo/Centro Familiar Cristiano de Anthony, Rob Gallardo/Operation No Gangs (ARYBA TX-NM), Adrian Arreola/Operation No Gangs, Art Terrazas/Anthony-Berino Economic Development Corporation, Bertha Rizzuti, Betty Gonzalez, M.E. Bejarano, Susan Serna, Mary Ann Brown, Rep. Joseph Cervantes (D)/State of New Mexico District 52, Dolores Saldana-Caviness/Dona Ana County - Commissioner, Rev. Andres Alava/St. Anthony Catholic Church, Larry Metheny, Laura Neal and Ana Artalejo.
MONDAY, AUGUST 27, 2007
ARBYA TX-NM Operation No Gangs will present a free parent-child seminar entitled: "Signs that your child might be involved in a Hispanic Youth Gang" at the Chaparral Multipurpose Center, 190 County Line Rd. Chaparral, NM on Monday, 8/27/07 from 6:30 - 9 p.m.
The event is hosted by the Chaparral Community Development Association, Several teens who have left the gang lifestyle or in the process of disasassociating from a youth gang will share their stories about the regrets they have about joining a gang. Presenters will display gang-related attire and other paraphernalia to enlighten the public as to what to look out for in determining possible gang affiliation. Knowledge is power. Parents are so often the last to "know" or admit that their child might be involved in a gang. After this presentation, each attendee will come away with a significantly increased awareness, as assisted by the many PowerPoint photos and the materials available on display. Pizza, sandwiches and soft drinks will be available at no charge at the end of the presentation.
THURSDAY, AUGUST 23, 2007
ARBYA TX-NM Operation No Gangs will host a free Spanish-language parent-child
seminar entitled: "
Signs that your child might be involved in a Hispanic Youth Gang" at the First Baptist Church, 201 Anthony Street, Anthony, NM on Thursday, 8/23/07 from
6:30 - 9 p.m. Several teens who have left the gang lifestyle or in the process of disasassociating from a youth gang will share their stories about the regrets they have about joining a gang. Presenters will display gang-related attire and other paraphernalia to enlighten the public as to what to look out for in determining possible gang affiliation. Knowledge is power. Parents are so often the last to "know" or admit that their child might be involved in a gang. After this presentation, each attendee will come away with a significantly increased awareness, as assisted by the many PowerPoint photos and the materials available on display. Refreshments and snacks will be available for sale during the break periods.
WEDNESDAY, AUGUST 15, 2007
U.S. Representative Steve Pearce (R), 2nd Congressional District New Mexico, will hold a Meth Awareness Tour in Anthony, NM from 1:30 - 3:30 p.m. at the VFW Post 4384. The public is urged to attend. For information on The Meth Action Project (MAP) click here.
SATURDAY, AUGUST 4, 2007 7 am - 3pm
The Dona Ana County Sheriff's Dept. is hosting a Graffiti Clean-up Day. Interested townspeople can show up to the Anthony Sheriff's Substation, 865 Anthony St., on Saturday morning at 7 am to perform town-wide clean up. Businesses and interested people can donate clean-up materials. Participants are urged to check anticipated weather conditions and dress appropriately. (posted Tuesday, July 31, 2007, updated 8/3/07)
Individuals interested in forming a Community Action Group to partner in helping resolve the gang activity increase issue in Anthony are urged to call (505) 201-4365. A tentative meeting is considered for after the below-referenced presentation. (posted Tuesday, July 31, 2007)
THURSDAY, AUGUST 2, 2007 6:30 - 9 pm
ARBYA TX-NM Operation No Gangs will host a free parent-child seminar entitled: "Signs that your child might be involved in a Hispanic Youth Gang" in English with Spanish translation at the Anthony VFW Post on Thursday, 8/2/07 from 6:30 - 9 p.m. Several teens who have left the gang lifestyle or in the process of disasassociating from a youth gang will share their stories about the regrets they have about joining a gang. Presenters will display gang-related attire and other paraphernalia to enlighten the public as to what to look out for in determining possible gang affiliation. Knowledge is power. Parents are so often the last to "know" or admit that their child might be involved in a gang. After this presentation, each attendee will come away with a significantly increased awareness, as assisted by the many PowerPoint photos and the materials available on display. Refreshments will be available during the break periods. Joe Mendez, Gadsden Independent School District Security Chief, will also speak regarding issues the district is facing as to gang affiliation. ARYBA TX-NM awaits word from the Sheriff's Department as to possible co-participation.
(posted Friday, July 27, 2007; amended Tuesday, July 31, 2007)
WEDNESDAY, JULY 25, 2007 6:00 - 9:00 p.m.
Joe Mendez, Gadsden ISD Security Chief/Safe & Drug-Free Schools Coordinator, has arranged for a community presentation entitled "Violence and Gang Prevention" to take place at the Anthony Elementary School cafeteria. (posted 7/24/07)
FRIDAY, JULY 27, 2007 6:00 p.m.
According to the El Paso Times, in a news post by reporter Daniel Borunda 7/24/07, the Dona Ana County Sheriff's Department has scheduled another community meeting this week to discuss gang activity in Anthony, N.M., officials said Monday. The meeting will be at 6 p.m. Friday at the St. Anthony's Church Hall, 224 Lincoln St. There will be a presentation about gangs in the Anthony area. The department has also invited speakers and representatives from various agencies. (posted 7/24/07)
Resident J. C. Fernandez, (915) 478-7889, is asking for
volunteers to participate in an Anthony, NM
Neighborhood Watch program. (posted 7/19/07)
Learning from experience:
(excerpt from Los Angeles Daily News article 10/1/04 regarding churches reaching out to gang members in the community)
"Ealey says churches are a little late in coming to the gang problem, but he sees dramatic results ahead.
"This didn't happen overnight," he says of the gang situation. 'Churches are awakening to the problem. They've been called to duty. I think, once that happens, there will be an overwhelming number of kids who will find ministries.'
Rev. Gregory Sanders of The Rock Christian Fellowship, 4290 E. Pacific Coast Highway in Long Beach, also says it's important to meet youth in their own territory. Through an event called Mile of Men, which meets three or four times per year, an interfaith group of men meet along sidewalks in high-crime areas in a symbolic stand against gangs and street violence.
Whether on the streets or in the church, Robert Langworthy at Covenant Presbyterian says, what's most important to kids is consistency and commitment.
'Most of the kids we see have had experiences with adults who don't fulfill promises,' he says.
'In truth, we haven't had a lot of success with parents. Many of them are appreciative of the services we offer, but often what we provide are surrogate parents.'
