[447] MTSU Symposium To Address Scourge of Gang Violence

May 2, 2011
Contact: Tom Tozer, 615-898-2919

MTSU SYMPOSIUM TO ADDRESS SCOURGE OF GANG VIOLENCE

MURFREESBORO—The second annual 2011 Ethnic Gangs Organized Crime Symposium will be held May 11-13 at Middle Tennessee State University in the State Farm Room of the Business and Aerospace Building.
The event is free and open to the public and particularly law-enforcement and community organizations that have a common goal to address the problem of gang activity. The theme of the program is “Programs That Work,” and the focus will be on successful strategies and programs that address gangs, gang violence, gang membership and gang activity right here in middle Tennessee, as well as throughout the state and beyond.
Those interested in attending are encouraged to visit www.mtsu.edu/fire for symposium details, including registration, a list of speakers and sessions times.
“Community leaders need to respond to gangs as if they are poisonous to the welfare and safety of all members of the community—because they are,” said Dr. Carter F. Smith, assistant professor in MTSU’s Department of Criminal Justice and one of the symposium speakers. “The gang mentality is being shared through movies, music and the Internet and will reach the youth. Members of the community need to be vigilant in their search for indicators of gang activity and find things for youth to do other than ‘hanging out’ with a bunch of thugs.”
A feature of the program will be the viewing of 3 to 5-minute videos produced and presented by various nonprofit agencies highlighting their particular gang-deterrence programs. The event will provide networking opportunities and a sharing of ideas among community leaders who are working to tackle the problem head-on.
In addition to Smith, nationally known speakers will include T.J. Leyden, expert on white-supremacy groups; Marco Silva, former gang member in Chicago for 10 years and co-founder and president of the Georgia Gang Investigators Association; Dr. Al Valdez, former supervisor of the Gang Unit for Orange County, Calif.; Hunter “Gator” Glass, expert on gangs whose clients include law enforcement and the military; and Nashville Detective Mark Anderson.
Among the issues to be addressed from the podium and in panel discussions will include the proliferation of regional and international Hispanic gangs, white supremacy attitudes, gang activity in the military, Kurdish gangs and understanding gangs and youth violence.
Every citizen must face the fact that gangs are a reality in our cities and towns, Smith emphasized.
“Avoid denial at all costs,” he said. “If someone acts like he is in a gang, he probably is. There’s no need to support what others are doing when what they are doing hurts them and everyone who comes in contact with them. Being a gang member is not a protected class of society. Treat gangs like you want them to go away—and they will,” Smith said.
The symposium is being sponsored by MTSU’s Forensic Institute for Research and Education and co-sponsored by MTSU and the Tennessee Gang Investigators Association.
####
Founded in 1911, Middle Tennessee State University is a Tennessee Board of Regents institution located in Murfreesboro and is the state’s largest public undergraduate institution. In September 2011, MTSU will celebrate its 100th year anniversary with special events and activities throughout the year — kicked off by a Blue-Tie Centennial Gala on Friday, Sept. 9.

For MTSU news and information, go online to mtsunews.com.