Youth Promise
Act - Youth Support Campaign
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Youth Promise
Act - Youth Support Campaign
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"The Fairfax County Community Initiative to Reduce Youth Violence (CIRYV) was initiated by the County Board of Supervisors and the School Board in 1996 with the charge of bringing public and private sectors together to develop a shared vision and a comprehensive plan for coordinating efforts to reduce youth violence. Over the course of eighteen months of extensive information-gathering (including town meetings in each magisterial district, a youth event, a service provider survey, an audit of existing services, and gang member interviews), the CIRYV Steering Committee developed a comprehensive plan and created the Fairfax Partnership for Youth as the mechanism to put that plan in place. The long-term plan includes seven issue areas (Hard-to-Reach Youth and Parents; Role Models & Community Standards; Prevention Programs; Youth Employment & Training; Information Dissemination & Community Education; Community Collaborations; and Advocacy for Youth) with long-term goals, desired results and proposed strategies. On an annual basis, the Partnership reviews this plan, identifies other emerging issues and prioritizes issues to be addressed (forming appropriate action-oriented collaborative task forces)." The information above comes from the Fairfax County Partnership for youth website located at: http://www.fairfaxyouth.org/aboutus/ The contribution of Barrios Unidos was essential in this initial process of the development of the (CIRYV). Barrios Unidos was the first non-profit organization in Fairfax County to formally address gang intervention issues (through youth/community outreach and mentoring services to those most at-risk), to formally attempt to educate the community about the dangers of violence (prevention to elementary and middle school levels), and to intentionally hire ex-gang members who had made a change to work and be involved in the process of healing at-risk communities that were struggling with violence and to generate an environment of hope for all young people. The interview in this video was produced because many young people were tired of the madness plaguing their community and made possible because trust these young people had in the committed folks that worked for Barrios Unidos in the mid-90s. Barrios Unidos has 12 years of committed service in Fairfax County and in Northern Virginia, Maryland, and DC. We give thanks to all the committed Peace Warriors that have given of their time, their lives and their Spirits to make sure that our young people have hope for the future, realize the value life, and eventually give back to their community. You all have had Courage to venture a road that had not been traveled. You have had Patience to endure the challenges that came with the responsibility to fight for those who had no voice. You also showed Commitment in your dedication to the Homeboys and Homegirls that we have had the honor to meet in our life's path. |
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