County Hosting Gang Awareness Seminar

The DuPage County State’s Attorney's office will host a public seminar to educate residents on signs of gang activity.

The seminar will be from 6:30 p.m. to 8 p.m. March 4 at the LindenOaks at Edward Outpatient Center, 1335 N. Mill St. in Naperville.

According to a news release, the aim of the seminar is to provide DuPage County residents with a better understanding of gangs and their presence in our communities. 

“I am very pleased to host this seminar,” State's Attorney Robert Berlin said. “Make no mistake about it, gangs are here. As parents, it is our responsibility to educate ourselves about the existence of gangs. We must know what signs to look for that may indicate whether or not our children are at risk for joining a gang or worse, have already become a member of a gang.

"Kids today are smart. They know how to hide potential indicators of gang involvement from their parents. That’s why this class is so important. It gives parents the information they need to properly assess if their child is involved in gangs and steps they can take to keep their children from getting involved in gangs.”

Joining Berlin will be Charla Waxman of LindenOaks at Edward. Waxman has spent nearly 30 years working with gang involved adolescents and young adults. In addition, she's on staff with National Gang Crime Research Center, serves on The DuPage County Task Force on Gangs and has served as president of the Elgin Gang Drug Task Force.  

The seminar, which is free of charge, is open to anyone seeking information about gangs. To register for the seminar contact Mary Wells at the DuPage County State’s Attorney’s Office at 630-407-8106. Walk-ins are also welcome.