Family Focus Night teaches parents, kids about gang activity

NEW HANOVER COUNTY — New Hanover County District Attorney Ben David recently asked 400 eighth graders if any of them knew a drug dealer. More than half said yes. That’s just one fact that startled parents at an information session at Myrtle Grove Middle School Tuesday night.

The program is part of a series of meetings at New Hanover County Schools that is opening up the eyes of parents and kids to bad behavior going on close to home.

Adrian Herd and his wife happened to stumble upon Family Focus Night with their grandkids while at Myrtle Grove Middle School for another event. Herd was happy they did. He said, “I walked away with more knowledge about gangs here in Wilmington than I thought I knew before.”

Herd’s granddaughter Shiniqua Bunting is in sixth grade at Myrtle Grove Middle School. She said, “It taught me a lot of lessons. It influenced me and encouraged me and stuff.”

District Attorney Ben David and District Court Judge Rebecca Blackmore were among the presenters. Blackmore was encouraged by the turnout. She said, “Parents were listening to what was being said and asking questions and wanting to understand the kinds of things that their kids are being exposed to.”

The presentation included pictures of what parents need to be looking for to recognize gang behavior as well as drug and alcohol use. Judge Blackmore said, “It is always an eye-opening experience for many people and you have no reason to know these things unless someone shows you.”

That was certainly the case for Adrian Herd. “I was naïve about the symbolic terminology,” he said.

Family Focus Night was a success for Herd and his family.