Foundation Grants Target Gang Violence

By Julie Gruenbaum Fax
Published on January 11, 2011

The Jewish Community Foundation (JCF) granted 10 Los Angeles gang-prevention programs $200,000 this month, making its mark on ongoing public and private programs to ease gang violence in the city. “The foundation is committed to supporting issues of vital importance to the community at large and chose to focus our General Community Grants this year on gang prevention and intervention. It is important that we work together as a community to address the significant negative effect of gang violence on youth and families in Los Angeles,” said Marvin Schotland, president and CEO of the foundation. The largest grant — $50,000 — went to the Advancement Project. The money will support Safe Passage, which works with LAUSD and LAPD to create protected routes for elementary school children walking in the Belmont/Rampart area. The grant will also create content for and train teachers, counselors and social workers to implement Advancement Project’s Prevention/Intervention Toolkit.

Jewish Aid Sought on Gang Problem

By Idan Ivri
Published on September 16, 2004

"I'd love to tell you I'm some brilliant mastermind that chartered this treaty, but the reality is that week by week, we're still working the streets," William "Blinky" Rodriguez said about the gang treaty he helped broker to bring rival groups together to talk. "We'd be out until 2, 3, 4 in the morning."

The War at Home

By Rob Eshman
Published on April 17, 2003

Four Angelenos were killed on the last day of the battle for Baghdad. Three were young men, each one of them killed with a bullet to the head on the streets of South Central Los Angeles. The fourth to die was an 8-year-old girl, hit by a bullet meant for a gang member.