Sessions Will Address Gang Recognition & Identification; Drug Recognition & Identification; Bullying & School Violence
Special Gang Prevention Session Just for Teens at 5-6 p.m. on August 14
This past winter and spring, the Cheyenne River Youth Project® hosted a series of special training sessions for staff and community members that addressed the critical topics of school violence, bullying, drug recognition and gang prevention. Due to the popularity of these sessions, CRYP will provide repeat sessions on Tuesday and Wednesday, August 14-15.
The free training sessions will take place from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. each day at the Cokata Wiconi Teen Center on East Lincoln Street in Eagle Butte. Each day, “Gang Recognition & Identification” will be held from 9 am. to 11 a.m.; “Drug Recognition & Identification” will be held from 11 a.m. to 12 p.m.; and “Bullying & School Violence” will take place from 12 p.m. to 1 p.m.
A special “Gang Prevention” training session just for teens will take place at Cokata Wiconi from 5 p.m. to 6 p.m. on Tuesday, August 14.
According to Julie Garreau, CRYP’s executive director, the nearly 25-year-old, not-for-profit, grassroots youth project is inviting Cheyenne River community leaders and members of the general public to participate in the adult training sessions.
“We’re hoping to get leadership and staff from a variety of community organizations here on Cheyenne River, as well as from the Standing Rock reservation, if they’re interested and willing to make the trip,” Garreau said. “Members of our local communities are also welcome to attend, because these are topics that affect all of us.
“The training session is free,” she continued. “We just ask that you call to reserve your space, as seating is limited. We can accept up to 50 participants for the each day of training.”
The “Gang Recognition & Identification” session will include a discussion about the destructive nature of the gangster mentality as well as what to look for in determining whether a young person is gang-involved.
The “Drug Recognition & Identification” session will involve a discussion about the most common illicit drugs in the region, including marijuana, cocaine, Ecstasy, pharmaceuticals, methamphetamine and synthetic drugs. It will address drug identification, origins, patterns of abuse and symptoms associated with use.
Finally, the “Bullying & School Violence” session will address the dynamics of bullying behavior and strategies to address such behavior, as well as trends in school violence and the personality traits associated with perpetrators.
To lead the training sessions, CRYP is once again welcoming Christopher Grant, a national Native American gang specialist who is based in Rapid City, South Dakota. He is the former chief of detectives for the Rapid City Police Department’s Criminal Investigation Division and the former commander of the Rapid City Area Gang Task Force.
“We’re delighted to have Chris return to CRYP for the training sessions, as he is a nationally recognized gang specialist with specific emphasis on Indian Country gang, drug and violent-crime issues,” Garreau said. “He has conducted gang assessments for communities and schools, he’s provided critical training seminars for tribal leaders, educators, community members and law-enforcement entities, including those at the federal, state, local and tribal levels, and he’s worked on more than 65 reservations across the country.”
Garreau said she and her staff are hoping for a full house on each day of the training, as gang, drug and school violence issues continue to deeply affect communities and rural areas throughout Indian Country.
“To better meet the needs of our kids, we need to fully understand what they’re facing in the streets, in school and even at home,” she said. “
To reserve a spot at the free gang-awareness training, contact CRYP at 605-964-8200 or send an e-mail to julie.cryp@gmail.com.
To learn more about the Cheyenne River Youth Project® and its programs, and for information about making donations and volunteering, call (605) 964-8200 or visitwww.lakotayouth.org. And, to stay up to date on the latest CRYP news and events, visit the youth project’s Facebook “Cause” page. All Cause members will receive regular updates through Facebook.
The Cheyenne River Youth Project®, founded in 1988, is a grassroots, not-for-profit organization dedicated to providing the youth of the Cheyenne River reservation with access to a vibrant and secure future through a wide variety of culturally sensitive and enduring programs, projects and facilities that ensure strong, self-sufficient families and communities.