Members of the public will get chance to express their concerns over gang violence at a meeting next week.

Called by the Junior Minister of Public Safety, Sen. Jeffrey Baron, who serves as Chairperson for the Inter-Agency Gang Task Force, and members off Bermuda’s faith community, the meeting is designed to generate community response to one of Bermuda’s most serious problems.

It will take place at the Anglican Cathedral Hall next Wednesday.

The initiative, entitled ‘Change By Us’, will encompass a round-table discussion. Presenters will include Mirrors Programme Coordinator, Kim Jackson, Family Centre’s Martha Dismont and representatives from the Bermuda Police Service, and the Department of Child and Family Services.

Sen. Baron stressed that the event was about bringing people together to address common concerns regarding gangs and anti-social behaviour.

“It’s about engaging, empowering and energising our community to take action,” he said. “Over the past five years there has been an increase in the gang activity in Bermuda.

“The Change By Us session will provide the community with education and awareness of the reasons, reality and response to gangs in Bermuda — our ultimate goal here is reducing the influence gang lifestyles have on our youth and community.

“Both Kim Jackson and Martha Dismont have worked tirelessly to make this happen — to use their community reach and influence to craft a forward-leaning initiative that will ultimately tease out valuable concerns and suggestions from our community.

“This is our first planned meeting with more scheduled in the New Year. Essentially, we want the outcome of these meetings to empower a unified community-wide response to gangs in Bermuda. In fact, the intent is to activate a series of core community groups to continue the dialogue at the neighbourhood level for a grass roots community action to respond to gangs.”

The meeting will take place between 6.00 to 8.30pm.

For more information about the event, contact Kim Jackson on 294-9291.