Medgar Evers Holds Anti-Bullying and Anti-Gang Workshops

On Saturday, April 21, Medgar Evers College and Kings County District Attorney Charles J. Hynes held a series of workshops on preventing bullying and gang activity to more than 130 college staff who work with Brooklyn youth.

As part of an ongoing partnership aimed at improving the health and safety of Central Brooklyn, Assistant District Attorney Ed Carroll DA’s Gangs Bureau spoke about the importance of being cognizant of the behavior, dress and demeanor of the teens with whom SPCD staff interacts.

For example, teens turning up with expensive clothing or shoes, flashing hand signals and hanging out with a new group of friends that all dress alike are signs of gang involvement, he noted, as is withdrawing from school and family.

Other signs include the child suddenly behaving like a bully or seeming afraid of going to school, riding the bus or taking part in organized activities with peers to him or her having torn or damaged clothing or books.

The workshops were organized under the auspices of the Community Justice Program, which combines aspects of the Brooklyn District Attorney’s renowned reentry, diversion and anti-crime initiatives with programs offered by Medgar Evers College and creates additional opportunities for students, faculty and staff members interested in law and social justice.

The Community Justice Program’s next event will be the final seminar in the semester-long series “The Criminal Justice System as an Agent of Social Change,” which will take place at Medgar Evers College on Thursday, May 10, from 3 p.m. to 5 p.m.