Gangs and violence topic of Oct. 25 event at Centennial United Methodist Church

Online Staff Report

Rockford Urban Ministries (RUM) will host a program about counteracting gangs and violence in the local neighborhood beginning at 7 p.m., Thursday, Oct. 25, at Centennial United Methodist Church, 1503 Broadway.

A representative from the Rockford Police Department’s Anti-Gang Task Force, as well as local neighborhood police, will speak about the efforts to counteract the increase in violent crime.

Centennial United Methodist Church has moved to Broadway and offers neighborhood programs, which RUM supports. One of the programs includes English as a Second Language (ESL) class that attracts local Burmese refugees. They will provide a selection of Burmese refreshments for the program.

The Rev. Enrique Gonzalez, pastor at Centennial on Broadway, will speak about the church’s new role in the neighborhood. Rev. Gonzalez can be reached at (847) 345-6430.

The program is free and open to the public. A freewill offering will be taken for the work of Centennial UMC.

Posted Oct. 23, 2012