Blog Archives

Pitch, Hit & Run!

phr_poster copyFINAL

Together Against Violence and Kerman Cal Ripkin League will host a free Major League Baseball® Pitch, Hit & Run™ Competition for area youth.

Date: Sunday, May 12th   Time: 1:00pm

Location:  Rotary Park on West ‘D’ Street and Vineland Avenue in Kerman, CA

Pitch, Hit & Run™ is the official skills competition of Major League Baseball®.  This grassroots program is designed to provide youngsters with an opportunity to compete, free of charge, in a competition that recognizes individual excellence in core baseball/softball skills.

Boys and girls are divided into four age divisions: 7/8, 9/10, 11/12, 13/14, and have the chance to advance through four levels of competition, including Team Championships at Major League ballparks and the National Finals at the 2013 MLB™ All-Star Game®.

The individual Pitching, Hitting and Running Champions, along with the All-Around Champion in each age and gender group at the Local Competition will be awarded and advance to the Sectional Level of Competition.

All participants must bring a copy of their birth certificate and have their parent or guardian fill out a registration/waiver form prior to the start of the competition.  For questions concerning the competition, please contact your Local Coordinators, Michelle Thompson at 559-681-1185 or Roxanne Ochoa at 559-348-7003 and Hugo Rios at 559-473-3169, email inquiries may be sent to:  2getheragainstviolence@gmail.com.

Calling All Anti-Violence Advocates!!!

Did you know 40% of the Prosecutors in the Fresno County DA’s Homicide Division have resigned their positions since receiving a 9% pay cut in 2011? This is important to all of us because these Prosecutors are the people responsible for putting murderers behind bars. The reason there have been pay cuts is because of the budget imposed by the Fresno County Board of Supervisors. Yet, according to this insightful report “…current County contracts give higher salaries to Public Defenders than to Prosecutors.” An attorney working in public service is already taking a huge pay cut compared to what they could make in the private sector. Paying for college after law school is a huge expense; the dedicated Prosecutors who choose to represent “the People” rather than defending scum do so because they want to what is right by all of us.

If you think the Fresno County Board of Supervisors should reconsider their position on this matter and or raise the salaries of Prosecutors, let them know.  Express your concern to them in the name of public safety, their failure to reconsider is a danger to all of us. Criminals can and will find the loophole in the system and exploit it.

Here is a list of the Supervisors, including the areas they represent and an email address. We urge you to email the Supervisor in your District and tell them how you feel about this situation. Remember through our combined efforts we can make our communities safe for one and all!

~Together Against Violence

Fresno County

  • Supervisor Phil Larson

Western Fresno County (Firebaugh, Kerman, Mendota, San Joaquin and Neighboring Communities)

jbarlow@co.fresno.ca.us

  • Supervisor Debbie Poochigian

Eastern Fresno County (Clovis, Sanger, Prather, Auberry and Neighboring Communities)

District5@co.fresno.ca.us  

  • Supervisor Henry Perea

Central Fresno (Tower District, Mayfair, Calwa)

ppinedo@co.fresno.ca.us

  • Supervisor Andreas Borgeas

Fresno and Clovis (Fig Garden, Fashion Fair, Fresno State, Riverpark and Neighboring Areas)

district2@co.fresno.ca.us

  • Supervisor Judy Case

Southern Fresno County (Selma, Coalinga, Kingsburg, Fowler and Neighboring Communities)

district4@co.fresno.ca.us

Do Not Be A Bystander

Victim

Tips to Avoid Becoming a Victim of Violence

These are crazy times that we live in, early releases have shown a marked increase in violent crime. Don’t put yourself in a situation that may result in you becoming a victim.

Here are some tips:
1) Don’t look like a victim. Walk tall with your head up. Project an air of confidence as you walk and speak to persons.

2) Trust your instincts. If something, or someone, makes you uncomfortable, avoid the person or leave the area. Listening to “your gut instinct” can help you avoid becoming a victim of a violent crime.

3) Avoid parking in isolated areas. Be especially alert in lots and underground parking garages. Always park in a well lighted, heavily traveled area.

4) Don’t do things alone. Take a friend with you. It’s true there is safety in numbers and you’ll have more fun with a friend.

5) Don’t put yourself in a situation or location that is known to be less than safe.

(Information courtesy of Safety Officer Paul G. Corcoran, Lowell Police Department)

Officials: Fresno crime rates rising amid jail releases | abc30.com.

News Story Originally Aired on ABC30 KFSN-TV Fresno, CA

23 Ways To Stop Youth Violence

Here are some great tips for stopping youth violence. These points can serve many purposes from promoting self-reflection to building self-esteem. Don’t just read it, think about it, turn your thoughts and ideas into actions. Take this list and use it to lead you toward a positive outcome.

http://theronniebrownproject.org

Straight talk on how to stop youth violence. Courtesy of the Ronnie Brown Project.

  1. Walk away
  2. See the big picture
  3. Give respect to get respect
  4. Think before you act
  5. Learn to manage your anger
  6. Talk to someone you trust
  7. Listen & Understand
  8. What would your family say?
  9. Tell the truth
  10. Speak up
  11. Exhibit tolerance
  12. Speak with a professional
  13. Lead, don’t follow
  14. Adjust your attitude
  15. Remember your faith
  16. Think about your future
  17. Know the consequences
  18. Get involved at school, in your community
  19. Who you are really hurting?
  20. Stay in school
  21. Surround yourself with positive people
  22. Believe in yourself
  23. Negotiate

pReVeNtiNg KiDs fRoM GaNg-jOiNiNg: cOLLaBoRaTiOn mATTeRs

Together Against Violence gratefully acknowledges the U.S. Department of Justice, Office of Justice Programs, National Institute of Justice, for allowing us to reproduce, in part or in whole, the video Preventing Kids From Gang-Joining: Collaboration Matters. The opinions, findings, and conclusions or recommendations expressed in this video are those of the speaker(s) and do not necessarily represent the official position or policies of the U.S. Department of Justice.

Tom Simon, Centers for Disease Control
NIJ Conference 2011
June 20-22