DJ and producer Gabe Niles is grateful to be part of the Mayor’s Task Force for a Safer Virginia Beach.
It was announced in May to come up with recommendations following issues with crowds of teens and young adults and violence at the Oceanfront in the spring.
While he likes to think that he's representing the young people not on the board, he’s 38. He said he would have preferred that the task force include younger people.
“It’s obvious,” Niles said Wednesday. “I’m the youngest in the room, and I’m damn near 40.”
The 19-member group held its second meeting Tuesday. It includes representatives from law enforcement, faith groups, youth outreach, government and business. A number of topics were discussed, including the need for young people to be part of the next steps the task force recommends.
Niles and other task force members said there are opportunities for young people to be heard during three listening sessions scheduled for next week.
Asked whether young people were asked to join the task force, Mayor Bobby Dyer told WHRO he purposely looked for leaders who work with them in areas such as the arts, human rights and juvenile justice.
He said the listening sessions are an opportunity for young people to speak. He said he may hold an additional one specifically for them.
“Be assured, youth are going to be included,” Dyer said.
D. Nachnani, a member of the task force and president of the Atlantic Avenue Association, said he appreciates how the task force reflects a range of people but it could be enhanced by hearing from young people.
“When you look at it, it's very inclusive, very diverse, and the only thing is … We don't have anybody under the age of 30.”
The task force is led by state Sen. Christie New Craig and Del. Michael Feggans and its recommendations will go to City Council later this year. Feggans said people are reaching out to groups representing young people to encourage participation next week.
Though some sessions have focus areas, young people are encouraged to attend any of them.
The first listening session at Bayside Recreation Center is at 6 p.m., Tuesday, July 28, focusing on civil rights and faith organizations. The second at the Virginia Beach Convention & Visitors Bureau Office is at noon, Wednesday, July 29, focusing on business and Oceanfront concerns. A general community session is at Meyera E. Oberndorf Central Library at 6 p.m., Thursday, July 30.
Depending upon participation, there could be another session for young people, said Delceno Miles, who is facilitating the meetings.
“We don’t want to leave anybody out,” she said Wednesday.
Jamal Gunn, a task force member and chairperson of the city’s Human Rights Commission, told WHRO the commission includes high school students.
But young people need to be part of conversations next week.
“We are thinking about what they need – or what we think they need – instead of having them tell us,” Gunn said.
