Elgin told it holds key to ending gang violence

How do you put an end to gang violence in Elgin, once and for all?

More than 80 people gathered to hear the answer Monday night, realizing that many of resources available to stop it are right here in town.

That's what Major Emmanuel Seay, associate executive director of the YMCA's street intervention program in Chicago, told a group of parents, residents, church and community leaders, gathered Monday night at the Centre of Elgin.

The first step in ending gang violence is taking stock of the programs, groups and resources already offered in Elgin, he said.

When you know what you've got, you can then figure out what's missing and seek to get it, he said.

All the while, there should be someone tapped to lead these efforts who also would arrange meetings on the issues, get the school system and colleges involved and talk to police.

"If you don't get together, I can assure you the problems are not going to diminish," warned Seay.

The Elgin Latino Political Action Team started gathering the information after Monday's meeting and will plan another conference in the future, said George Irizarry, the group's chairman.

Some said the city, particularly the Centre of Elgin, should do more to offer affordable activities that would help keep children off the streets.

"You can't come (to the Centre) and do anything unless you have money," said Lisa Jones, an Elgin mother of 10 children.

Monday's meeting, co-hosted by the Elgin city council and the Elgin Latino Political Action Team, was held in response to a spate of seven gang-related shootings in the city that have left two dead and seven injured.

In response, Elgin police Chief Lisa Womack says there's been an increased presence of officers around town.

Irizarry, chairman of the Elgin Latino Political Action Team, says residents should continue to organize, rather than putting all their hopes into one group.

"We cannot expect police to take care of it all," he said.

Meanwhile, Womack says the first six months of the year showed violent crime was down 12 percent.

Though she's noticed an upward trend in the months since then due to some of the gunfire, the city hasn't had a shooting since September, she said.

"We seem to be OK right now," she said.