Other Highlights
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE Contact: David Beltran
June 29, 2009 (213) 978-0741
MAYOR VILLARAIGOSA KICKS OFF SECOND YEAR OF
SUMMER-LONG GANG REDUCTION EFFORT AT CITY PARKS
After helping to record City’s safest summer since 1967, SUMMER NIGHT
LIGHTS will expand programming from 8 to 16 parks in City
Gang Reduction Youth Development zones
LOS ANGELES - Mayor Antonio Villaraigosa today joined City officials and
community leaders to kick off the second year of SUMMER NIGHT LIGHTS and
announce the expansion of the program to 16 sites. The anti-gang initiative
keeps City parks open after dark with organized activities for at risk youth, and
offers kids job opportunities and a safe place to spend the summer.
The Mayor was joined by Chief William Bratton, Councilmember Herb Wesson,
USC Football Coach Pete Carroll, 160 youth squad members and
representatives from participating non-profit and community based organizations.
“This is our chance to build on last summer's success and take back our parks
and our communities,” said Mayor Villaraigosa.” This summer, we're going to
double-down on our efforts to invest in our youth and our broader strategy to
push our sons and daughters to lead productive lives if given the chance.”
In its second year, SUMMER NIGHT LIGHTS will expand from 8 to 16 locations
in the City’s Gang Reduction and Youth Development zones with expanded
programming, after-school activities, athletic leagues, arts initiatives and family
programs. The program was developed in partnership with Coach Carroll’s nonprofit
organization, A Better LA, the Department of Recreation and Parks, the
LAPD, the Department of Cultural Affairs, and the LA Unified School District
(LAUSD).
In its first year of programming, communities around SNL parks experienced a
17% drop in violent gang-related crime, an 86% reduction in homicides and a
23% decrease in aggravated assaults.
The Summer Night Lights program has three major components:
- Extended Hours & Programming: From July 8th – September 5th, 16 sites will
extend their hours until midnight, four nights a week (Wednesday – Saturday)
and expand programming to include youth-centered recreational, educational
and artistic activities (sponsored by the Department of Cultural Affairs) to engage
youth in positive activities during peak times for violence.
- Youth Squad: Ten Youth Squad members per site have been hired to create
and staff the extended hours and programs. Youth Squad members are at-risk
youth (defined as potential victims or perpetrators of violence), ages 17-20, and
will receive stipends for 10 weeks.
- Cease-Fire: Intervention Workers will help maintain cease-fires at the sites and
in the surrounding community. They will assist in hiring and overseeing
coordinators and assist with expanded programming.
SUMMER NIGTH LIGHTS SITES
This effort will keep the following City parks open and fully-staffed from 7:00 PM
to midnight on Wednesday through Saturday between July 8 and Labor Day.
The participating parks and locations are:
1. Cypress Park Recreation Center - Northeast
2. Denker Recreation Center – Southwest
3. Edward R. Roybal Learning Center – Rampart
4. Glassell Park – Northeast
5. Harvard Recreation Center – 77th II Division
6. Hubert Humphrey – Pacoima/Foothill
7. Imperial Courts Recreation Center – Watts/Southeast
8. Jim Gilliam Park - Baldwin Village/ Southwest
9. Jordan Downs Recreation Center – Watts/Southeast
10. Lemon Grove Recreation Center – Hollywood
11. Mount Carmel Park - Florence-Graham/ 77th Division
12. Nickerson Gardens Recreation Center – Watts/Southeast
13. Ramon Garcia Recreation Center - Boyle Heights/ Hollenbeck
14. Ross Snyder Recreation Center - Newton
15. Hubert Humphrey Memorial Park - Pacoima/ Foothill
16. Ramona Gardens Recreation Center – Hollenbeck
Under Mayor Villaraigosa’s direction, each GRYD Program Manager has
convened a local park advisory board to ensure that key local stakeholders are
involved in the planning and implementation process, including LAPD, LAUSD,
Recreation and Parks, Cultural Affairs, community and faith-based organizations,
gang intervention workers, community residents, youth, business leaders and
Neighborhood Councils.
SUMMER NIGHT LIGHTS SUPPORTERS
“SUMMER NIGHT LIGHTS” will be funded entirely through philanthropic
donations. After the City Council transferred control of the City’s gang reduction
programs to the Mayor’s office, Rev. Jeff Carr – the Mayor’s director of gang
reduction and youth development – raised nearly $1 million for the summer
program.
The following organizations stepped up to the plate and contributed to this
initiative:
• Ahmanson Foundation
• Eisner Foundation
• Annenberg Foundation
• Weingart Foundation
• Wells Fargo Bank
• California Wellness Foundation
• LA84
• Southern California Edison
• Hitachi
• Target
• Montrose Community Church
• Union Bank of California
• Disney
• Empowerment Congress Southeast NC
• Empowerment Congress Central
• California Community Foundation
• Forever 21
• Fundraiser held by Council President Eric Garcetti
• Kaiser Permanente
• Rosenthal Family
• Hauptman Family
• David & Marjorie Lee
• An anonymous donor
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