RW News: FAMU Social Work Department and Tallahassee Urban League Host Town Hall Meeting on Gangs

Florida A&M University’s Master of Social Work Department and the Tallahassee Urban League will host a town hall meeting to inform the community about gangs in the Tallahassee Community scheduled for Thursday, November 15, from 6 p.m. to 8 p.m. at the Jack L. McLean, Jr. Community Center located on 700 Paul Russell Road.

Guests include Judge Janet Ferris, State of Florida Circuit Court, 2nd Judicial Circuit; FAMU Assistant Chief of Police Lockley; Elijah Stackhouse, gang specialist for Tallahassee Community College; Officer Gary Jordan, gang specialist for Leon County’s Sheriff Department; and Officer Derrick Friend, gang specialist for the City of Tallahassee Police Department

According to the National Youth Gang, approximately 1 in 4 law enforcement agencies with a gang problem operated a gang unit in 2004, including 51 percent of larger cities. In 2004, 31 percent of law enforcement agencies with a gang problem that did not operate a gang unit reported that one or more officers were assigned to handle gang problems exclusively.

“Recent data indicates there has been an alarming increase in gang activity in Florida in general, and in particularly Tallahassee,” said Merlin R. Langley, associate professor in the FAMU Department of Social Work. “The Department of Social Work in partnership with the Urban League is hosting a town hall meeting to increase citizens awareness of gang violence in North Florida.”

This event is free and refreshments will be provided. The general public is invited to attend. For more information, contact Merlin R. Langley at (850) 599-3456.