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MAJOR ACCOMPLISHMENTS
Since May 1991, the Violence Prevention Coalition of Greater
Los Angeles (VPC) sponsored by the Los Angeles County Department
of Health Services Injury and Violence Prevention Program, the
California Wellness Foundation, the Max Factor Family Foundation,
and the California Endowment has accomplished the following
notable achievements.
- The VPC has grown from 41 to almost 900 members representing
the public and private sectors, including: public health,
education, law enforcement, hospitals, the medical community,
universities, the faith community, community based organizations,
entertainment media, business and community members.
- The VPC in partnership with others has launched the Youth
Violence Prevention Peace Coalition; a countywide coalition
of youth dedicated to working together to find peaceful
solutions to violence in their communities.
- The National Campaign Against Youth Violence has selected
the VPC as the Los Angeles representative for the campaign.
- Forty-one challenge grants have been provided to community-based
organizations for youth focused violence prevention activities.
More than 8,000 youth have participated in at least one
community violence prevention activity as a result of the
$1,000 challenge grants. This amounts to an average cost
of $ 2.62 for each youth participating.
- Activities have included: events for Asian Pacific youth
to participate in theater, music, and arts; A summer youth
festival for Korean and Latino youth in the Westlake/Korea
town area; A candlelight vigil and a resource fair in East
Los Angeles focusing on relationships and domestic violence;
A tour of the Museum of Tolerance and workshops at the Skirball
Cultural Center for youths in grades 6 to 8; Establishment
of a youth support group at the Loved Ones of Homicide Victims
Counseling Center; In the Harbor Area, Samoan and Latino
youth have organized an annual forum to address multi-cultural
concerns; Low income and homeless youth are working together
to address violence for youth in Affordable Housing developments
across the County; Inglewood youth held a neighborhood clean-up
day and coupled that activity with a Day of Dialogue to
explore racial violence.
- The Annual Basketball tournament is held each year for
youth from throughout LA County. Youth from rival neighborhoods
compete in a peaceful environment for trophies. Each year
more than 200 youth participate in this friendly competition.
- Dance for Peace is held each year.. In 2003 the Japan
America Theater was home to the event. Ethnic, tap, ballet,
modern, boot, and hip-hop are performed by youth from across
Los Angeles County. In addition to performing each group
explains what dancing for peace means to their group and
how they plan to promote peace in their community. Professional
dancers and choreographers donate their time to judge this
event.
- This year the VPC is providing seminars and courses for
our members on evaluation and using data to assess the effectiveness
of the work being done.
- The VPC was instrumental in the passage of the first ban
on .50 Caliber Sniper Rifles in the City of Los Angeles.
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