Solving Tulsa's Gang Problem

Tulsa's gang summit is sparking some ideas to the areaâ€™s gang problems. Five months after the city came together to search for answers, the first fixes are in the works. <br/><br/>News On 6 anchor

Wednesday, February 21st 2007, 10:17 am

By: News On 6

Tulsa's gang summit is sparking some ideas to the areaâ€™s gang problems. Five months after the city came together to search for answers, the first fixes are in the works.

News On 6 anchor Scott Thompson reports many of the ideas that came out of last September's gang summit were proposals we've heard before. Like a mentoring program, which Tulsa Mayor Kathy Taylor says began in January. [Click here, to read a New On 6 story about the mentoring program.] Tulsa area school districts are also implementing new after-school programs.

And at a meeting in east Tulsa on Wednesday, concerned Tulsans heard plans for a new work program that will help former gang members get stable jobs.

Representatives from the mayor's office and the US Attorneyâ€™s office made the announcement Wednesday afternoon. Officials say about nine months before gang members finish their jail time, they'll go to a Career Tech training center in Muskogee County to learn new skills. They will then be matched with three Tulsa manufacturers, which have 100 openings for willing workers.

Assistant US attorney Tim Faerber says the jobs start at $12 an hour plus benefits. "It gives them real hope for the future, a job that can pay them some money, where they can pay the bills, get ahead, have a chance to have a family, have medical and dental coverage which is so important these days."

Click on the story headlines below to read previous News On 6 stories about the gang summit.

9/21/06 - 'Combating Tulsa's Gang Violence Problems'

9/28/06 - 'Tulsans Step Up After Gang Prevention Summit'

12/14/06 - 'Tulsa Gang Summit Recommendations Released'