National conference targets crime against blacks

ATLANTA - About 3,000 people - including 600 teens - are in Atlanta this week for the 17th annual National Conference on Preventing Crime in the Black Community. <br> <br> Georgia Attorney General Thurbert E. Baker, who is co-sponsoring the conference with Florida Attorney General Bob Butterworth, said the goal of the conference is twofold. <br> <br> ``The first is to bring law enforcement, government and community leaders and experts from around the country together to exchange ideas and weigh possible solutions to the crime and violence that exists in our nation&#39;s neighborhoods,&#39;&#39; Baker said. <br> <br> ``The second focus is on bringing African-American youths from around the country in to talk about issues that they face in their own communities and to tell the experts which programs they see work and which ones are missing the mark.&#39;&#39; <br> <br> Ideally, communities will take back proven programs that have been demonstrated this week at the conference, which continues through Saturday. <br> <br> ``It is very important that we deal with issues that impact the whole community,&#39;&#39; Baker said. ``And the ability to deal with, reduce and eliminate crime in our black communities makes all of our communities safe.&#39;&#39; <br> <br> Gov. Roy Barnes, one of the keynote speakers, said that while millions of young people are exposed to violence, it ``is not inherent.&#39;&#39; <br> <br> ``If young people can be educated, trained and informed, then we can stop a generation of criminals,&#39;&#39; Barnes said. <br> <br> Chaz Wynn, with his braided hair and gold teeth, might fit the young hustler stereotype identified with some young black men. But beneath those braids is an introspective 17-year-old eager to clean up his community. <br> <br> ``I am going to have to step up as a teen,&#39;&#39; said Wynn, a high school junior in Gifford, Fla. ``I am underrated and people expect the worst of me. But I have to be the best.&#39;&#39; <br> <br> Wynn is attending the conference with a group from an after-school program from Gifford and Vero Beach, neighboring towns on Florida&#39;s eastern coast. <br> <br> When asked if he knows anybody from his community in jail, Wynn was blunt. ``Yeah. Half my family,&#39;&#39; he said matter-of-factly. ``For drugs, domestic violence, trafficking. Everything and nobody is in for less than 10 years.&#39;&#39; <br> <br> Wynn said the teens are ready to go back and put in place what they will learn this week and not to make the same mistakes of their families and friends.

http://accesswdun.com/article/2002/5/194290