The California Wellness Foundation Announces 2009 California Peace Prize Honorees

Unsung Heroes To Receive $25,000 Cash Awards for Violence Prevention Work

San Francisco – Brian King, a former gang member and drug dealer, started a faith-based program in partnership with law enforcement, city leaders, and schools to provide services and support to at-risk youth in southwest Fresno. A refugee from Cambodia, Phalen Lim became an integral leader in an agency that combats gang violence and promotes cultural pride and understanding in Santa Ana. Olis Simmons applied her extensive experience in developing systems and programs that foster community wellness to create a youth leadership development center in East Oakland that prepares low-income youth of color for leadership and successful careers.

On October 28, The California Wellness Foundation (TCWF) will honor these three community leaders with its 17th annual California Peace Prize at a ceremony in San Francisco. In recognition of their efforts to prevent violence and promote peace, the honorees will each receive a cash award of $25,000. [Profiles and photographs of the honorees can be accessed at www.CalWellness.org; video profiles are available on request.]

“The honorees are representative of thousands of unsung heroes who work with youth to prevent violence in communities throughout California,” said Gary L. Yates, TCWF president and CEO. “This year’s honorees also show that perseverance through hardship can help build essential leadership that makes our state healthier and safer.”

view the full press release here http://calwellness.org/leadership_recognition/ca_peace_prize/2009/news_release.htm

And learn more about all of the honorees click here http://calwellness.org/leadership_recognition/ca_peace_prize/2009/

Fresno Street Saints will recognize Mr. King and all of the community members that have supported the efforts of the Fresno Street Saints to make this award possible on November 18th. For more information contact Linda Gleason

addressing the recent White Conference on Gang Violence Prevention and Crime Control, Attorney General Eric Holder commended Los Angeles' Summer Nights Light program, an initiative of the Office of Juvenile Justice and Delinquency Prevention's Gang Reduction Program, as a "different innovative approach to crime fighting."

"Summer Night Lights, in partnership with community organizations, offers safe and healthy alternatives to crime and delinquency at night," the Attorney General reported. "It literally turns the lights on in parks where crimes often occur, and offers recreational, educational, and artistic activities instead. The program is an example of innovation upon innovation.

The Department of Justice's Office of Juvenile Justice and Delinquency Prevention helped fund a pilot "Gang Reduction and Youth Development Zone"

in the Boyle Heights area of East Los Angeles, and the City of Los Angeles reported that this program helped reduce gang violence in that area by 40 percent. Now the city runs 'zones' across the city and Summer Night Lights in 15 sites."

Resources:

Attorney General Holder's remarks may be viewed at

www.usdoj.gov/ag/speeches/2

009/ag-speech-090824.html.

For additional information about OJJDP's efforts to prevent gang involvement, visit ojjdp.ncjrs.gov/programs/antigang/i

<http://ojjdp.ncjrs.gov/programs/antigang/index.html> ndex.html.