Schenectady, N.Y. (May 15, 2002) – Leroy Fogle knows all too well the pressures of gang life in America's cities. Once a prominent gang
leader in Harlem, Fogle now spends his time trying to prevent Schenectady youth
from joining gangs (as director of you services at the Carver Community Center
on Hamilton Hill). Fogle will speak on his work with gang prevention on Tuesday, May 21, at 7 p.m. at Union
College's Old Chapel.
Fogle's discussion kicks off a
weeklong event at the College, sponsored by students and faculty, on gang prevention in Schenectady, a city that has experienced an elevated number of gang-related incidents over the last few years.
In addition to Tuesday's talk, on Thursday, May 23, at 7 p.m. in the Reamer Campus Center Auditorium, a panel of speakers from local organizations will speak on gang-related issues facing the Hamilton Hill community, as well as efforts being made to change things and what Union can do to help.
Panelists will include Chauncy
Williams, president of the Hamilton Hill Neighborhood Association; Andreas
Kriefall, former Union College professor and ARISE (A Regional Initiative Supporting Empowerment) representative; and Rachel Graham, Union Class of 1998, founder and director of COCOA House, and youth director of SICM (Schenectady
Inner City Ministry).
In conjunction with Fogle's talk and
the community panel discussion, on Saturday May 25 Union students will
volunteer their time on various community service projects in Hamilton Hill. For more information, contact Anna Hurst, president of COCOA House, at
388-8215.
All events are free and open to the
public.