Department of Justice Seal

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

CRS

TUESDAY, APRIL 10, 2001

(202) 305-2966

WWW.USDOJ.GOV

TDD (202) 514-1888


CRS FACILITATES FORUM IN KANSAS CITY, MISSOURI TO

DISCUSS COMMUNITY RELATIONS ISSUES


Washington, D.C. -- The Community Relations Service (CRS), a unique racial conflict resolution arm of the U.S. Department of Justice, will facilitate a forum on "Responding to Problematic Issues in Entertainment Districts and Other Venues" for the Central States Region and other interested cities from around the country in Kansas City, Missouri, on April 12, 2001.

The forum is being facilitated by CRS in partnership with the Office of the Mayor in Kansas City, Missouri, the Kansas City Human Relations Department, the Kansas City Harmony, and the Westport Merchants Association. Topics and best practices will cover crowd control, racial issues, crime, youth-related problems, police/community relations, and developing community partnerships. The venues to be discussed will not be limited to Kansas City.

The forum was developed because of conflict-related problems that had surfaced in one of Kansas City's major entertainment districts. Contact with other cities indicated that they also were experiencing the same kinds of problems. The goal of the forum is to develop a set of strategies and best practices that would enhance conflict reduction and conflict management.

One of the presenters will be Mr. John Thayer, a retired officer of the Santa Barbara, California, Police Department, who has years of practical expertise and done an extensive study of entertainment districts.

Representatives from law enforcement, government agencies, business associations, youth organizations, and community organizations have been invited.

The forum will be held at the Gould-Evans Conference Room located in Manor Square in the Westport District at 4050 Pennsylvania Street, Kansas City, Missouri. Interested media should contact Atkins Warren at (816)426-7434 or Daryl Borgquist at (202)305-2966.

The Community Relations Service is a unique race relations arm of the U.S. Department of Justice created by the Civil Rights Act of 1964 to help resolve community racial conflict through non-coercive, impartial, third-party intervention. It is not a law enforcement agency. CRS is headquartered in Washington, D.C., and has regional offices in Atlanta, Boston, Chicago, Dallas, Denver, Kansas City, Los Angeles, New York, Philadelphia, and Seattle. It also has field offices in Detroit, Houston, Miami, and San Francisco.

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