Teen violence task force in Gilbert set for first meeting

Gilbert’s newly reconstituted Community Engagement Task Force will meet for the first time June 10 as it prepares to address teen violence in town.

Council appointed 11 members, including three teens, plus four alternates, including two teens, to the task force at council’s June 4 meeting. They meet for the first time at 5 p.m. in the Heritage Room (Room 300) of Gilbert Town Hall, 50 E. Civic Center Drive.

The members, selected from 39 applicants, are:

• Natosha Ash;
• Marc Beasley;
• Bradyn Bredemann (teen);
• Owen Fermoyle (teen);
• Justin Fink;
• Deena LeBio;
• Angela Rogers;
• Maxwell Udall (teen);
• Lisa Ulibarri Hatlen;
• Katy Walter;
• Kelly Westerberg.

The four alternates are Nneka Aguwamba, Isabelle Brice (teen), Andrew Lewis (teen) and Courtney Salamon-Fejt.

The council liaison is Councilmember Kathy Tilque. Staff liaisons are Assistant Town Manager Dawn Prince and Melanie Dykstra, the volunteer and community resources manager.

Additionally, schools and police are sending advisory representatives to work with the committee, though their presence does not count toward a quorum. The representatives are:

Susan Cadena, K-12 prevention coordinator, Gilbert Public Schools; James Walker, director of student services and Title IX coordinator, Higley Unified School District; Mark Huish, director of school safety and security, Chandler Unified School District; Shane Stuckey, dean of students, San Tan Charter School; Dan Provonsha, Gilbert North director, American Leadership Academy; Holly Garza, vice principal, Gilbert Christian School; and Officer Levi Leyba, Gilbert Police Department.

The meeting mostly will be organizational and training in nature, but the agenda includes time for a discussion of the priority focus area, plus a period for public comment near the end.