OUR PROGRAM COORDINATOR

Gang Prevention Specialist Ron "Cook" Barrett

“Cook”, as he is known to the youth of Albany, NY, has been involved with inner-city youth for over 20 years.
He was hired by the City of Albany, New York’s, Department of Youth and Workforce Services in 1999 and implemented the Gang Prevention Program, which was recognized by the National Gang Crime Research Center in Chicago, Ill. as an exemplary program in 2001. He is the gang prevention specialist with the City of Albany, NY, assisting city youth agencies, schools and the police department in addressing gang issues.

Ron spends his days conducting prevention and intervention programs with youth at risk of joining gangs and with kids already involved in gang activity. He has been a catalyst in the implementation of a number of successful youth programs including “Teen Night”, a weekend drop in center with the Albany YMCA.

He is a lecturer for the NYS Division of Criminal Justice Services, the Middle Atlantic Great Lakes Organized Crime Law Enforcement Network (MAGLOCLEN), the Ontario Gang Investigators Association (ONGIA), the New York Gang Investigators Association (NYGIA), the New Jersey Gang Investigators Association (NJGIA) and the East Coast Gang Investigators Association (ECGIA). He has trained over 8,000 law enforcement officers and presented to over 10,000 youth, and provided numerous seminars nationally and internationally, educating communities and law enforcement agencies on identifying and preventing gangs and their effects on the community. He was presented with the 2001 FBI Director’s Community Leadership Award, given by the Federal Bureau of Investigation, the New York State Governor’s Dr. King Leadership Award for 2004, the 2008 New Jersey Gang Investigator’s Association award for his Outstanding Prevention and Intervention efforts, the 2009 New York State Department of Health Affirmative Action Advisory Committee Community Service and Leadership Award and the 2010 Lasallian Service Award.

Gang Prevention Specialist
Ron “Cook” Barrett
175 Central Ave. Albany, NY 12206
     (518) 434-5723
www.nysgangprevention.com