Area youth participate in gang workshop

More than 60 youths from surrounding areas took a few hours out of their summer break on June 18 to learn how not to fall victim to the pressures of joining a gang at a workshop at Lee’s Tabernacle Pentecostal Holiness Church in Scranton. The speaker for the workshop was Lake City Police Department Narcotics/Gangs Investigator, Lt. Joseph Cooper. “You have to have respect for yourself,” Cooper told the youth. “Kids know a lot more than you think.” Cooper said children need to remain focused on their academics and career goals instead of the pressures of joining a gang. Some of the topics covered were slang terminology, symbols, gang philosophy, and gun violations. Some of the reasons youth join gangs is because of peer pressure, low motivation and behavior problems, Cooper said. Florence School District Three Board of Trustees Chairman Bernard McIntosh was in attendance and brought a group of youth to the presentation as well as Board of trustees member, Debra P. Matthews, who is a member of the church.