The Indigenous Nations Library program will host two events on Wednesday, April 23 featuring nationally recognized expert Keahi Kimo Souza talking about “Guns, Gangs and Graffiti in Indian Country.” A brown bag discussion at noon in the Herzstein Room on the 2nd floor of Zimmerman Library and a lecture at 3 p.m. in the Willard Room of Zimmerman will offer the public opportunities to explore this issue of concern.
Souza will discuss the rise in gang membership on reservations even though current literature shows national gang membership is actually on the decline. The presentation will provide the audience with basic information including theories of gang development, national trends and current gang intervention programs and strategies with a focus on Native American issues.
Souza is a social worker with the Native American Community Academy in Albuquerque and is a faculty consultant for Arizona State University and a Senior Research Associate with the California State University Center for Delinquency and Crime Policy Studies.
He has worked in the area of adult and youth gangs for the past decade, developing and supervising gang intervention programs both in and out of Indian Country and has coordinated an internationally recognized gang intervention and tattoo removal program.
He consults and provides technical assistance with the National Youth Gang Center, Office of Juvenile Justice and Delinquency Prevention Program, National Association of Drug Court Professionals, Native American Alliance Foundation, American Indian Development Associates, Tribal Youth Programs and the Tribal Law and Policy Institute. He is also on the board of directors for the National Association of Drug Court Professionals.
For information about the program, contact Savannah Gene, Native Pathways Lecture Series Coordinator at savgene@yahoo.com.