Youth Violence Prevention in Minneapolis Moves Forward
Mayor Rybak releases anti-gun-violence PSA with NFL player E.J. Henderson, asks attorney Andy Luger to conduct five-year review of youth-violence prevention efforts
July 30, 2012 (MINNEAPOLIS) — Minneapolis’ successful youth violence prevention efforts took two steps forward today, with the release of an anti-gun-violence public-service announcement and the announcement of a five-year review of Minneapolis’ youth-violence prevention efforts.
Mayor R.T. Rybak released a public-service announcement with NFL player E.J. Henderson in which Henderson calls on people to keep youth safe by reporting illegal guns and threats or acts of gun violence. The PSA, produced by Mayors Against Illegal Guns, of which Mayor Rybak is an active member, can be viewed at www.mayorsagainstillegalguns.org/football.
“I’m joining the effort against illegal guns because too many of our young people’s lives are being taken far too early due to senseless and preventable gun violence,” Henderson said. “Our communities need all our young people to reach their potential — whether as athletes, community leaders or presidents — which is why we must come together to put an end to illegal gun violence.”
“E.J.’s public face is on the football field, but his greatest work has been as a role model for our youth. I’m very grateful for his many quiet investments of both time and money in our next generation and I very much appreciate his joining the fight to eliminate illegal-gun violence and keep our children safe,” said Mayor Rybak.
Mayor Rybak also announced that he has asked Minneapolis attorney Andy Luger of the firm Greene Espel to conduct a pro-bono, outside review of Minneapolis’ Youth Violence Prevention work and the Blueprint for Action, five years after this comprehensive, multifaceted effort began to reduce youth violence in Minneapolis. Since 2006, the number of youth involved in violent crime has fallen 59 percent.
“For five years, we have had a coordinated community effort to make Minneapolis a safe place for our youth to call home,” Mayor Rybak said. “We’ve made great progress but we still face great challenges, so I have asked Andy Luger to lead a review of what has worked here and elsewhere and to make recommendations for taking our work to the next level.”
Luger will work in partnership with the Police Executive Research Forum of Washington, D.C. to examine the strengths and weakness of Minneapolis’ efforts, work with national experts in criminal justice and public health to determine best practices for addressing youth violence in urban areas, and will provide Minneapolis’ law-enforcement and public-health communities with recommendations for future work.
“I will work closely with law enforcement, community members, advocates and other professionals to conduct a thorough review of what has worked, what can be improved and what best practices Minneapolis can adopt from around the country,” Luger said. “I have volunteered to do this work because I care deeply about eliminating violence in all our communities and making sure that every Minnesotan has an equal opportunity to succeed and thrive.”
Luger has conducted high-profile, outside reviews in the past. In 2008, Saint Paul Mayor Chris Coleman appointed him to co-chair the Republican National Convention Public Safety Planning and Implementation Review Commission, which reported on planning and execution of security at the 2008 Republican National Convention. In 2009, the Minnesota Commissioner of Public Safety appointed him to co-chair the Metro Gang Strike Force Review Panel. The panel disclosed improper conduct by members of the Metro Gang Strike Force.
Luger is expected to complete the review by October 1, 2012.
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Published Jul. 30, 2012