AN INVITATION FOR GANG SPECIALIST PRESENTERS:

Dear Gang Specialist:

              The NGCRC cordially invites you to consider making a presentation at the 2026 Twenty Ninth NGCRC International Gang Specialist Training Conference (August 3 - August 5, 2026 at the Westin Hotel). The 2026 event is going to be a major event in gang training. There will be some new and wonderful events at the 2026 NGCRC Conference, you will want to be a part of it. Perhaps doing so as both an attendee, plus being a presenter too. There is still time to get a session added to the 2026 conference.

             This is your formal invitation to submit one or more “session proposals”. When you make a presentation at the NGCRC training conference you get national attention. You get a lot of positive exposure. To help you get started, below, please find a "Session Proposal Form". It is simple, there are only a couple things we need on the form. The most important is going to be the topic and the abstract. We encourage you to think creatively. We can also help you if you want it: we can help you with picking a topic, or with finalizing a topic. To get help, just call (708) 258-9111 and ask to speak to someone from the 2025 Curriculum Committee. Or leave a number, and someone will call you.

             The NGCRC supplies the following equipment to all training rooms and thus to all presenters: an LCD or data projector. We do not supply laptop computers. You must bring your own laptop to connect to the LCD projector. The NGCRC also supplies a screen, work or equipment table, a lecturn, and a power strip, and an external speaker if you need it (we like to use Bose Soundocks, but we have other models). Overhead projectors are not provided.

             If you need audio equipment, we have an assortment of computer speakers that can be checked out of the Goodwill Ambassador's Equipment Room, you will need to check in with them when you first arrive at the conference. Some audio equipment like the large and powerful speakers (we have a few of the Bose Sound Dock speakers, has connector to iPod or iPhone) need to be reserved at the Equipment Room if you want it set up in advance in your room, so check in with them Sunday evening or Monday morning. If you need to buy your own connector cables or anything for your laptop there is a BestBuy right across the street from the conference hotel. You need to go to the equipment room as soon as you get to the conference to check in with them if you want any sound system or speakers. Feel free to bring your own speakers even your own LCD or data projector if you like.

             You can also get help with “creative ideas” for a new session proposal. We already know what some of the “need areas are”, so you can get good feedback and counseling from the NGCRC on the type of session that will be “popular” and well attended in 2026. We can do this interactively with you on the phone, again, just call (708) 258-9111 and ask to speak to someone from the 2025 Curriculum Committee. Or leave a number, and someone will call you. You will find more information about the call for presenters at the NGCRC website (www.ngcrc.com). Note Bene: The call for presenters will likely end early this year, as we had over N = 100 different sessions in the 2025 program. So act now if you are interested. Our goal is to have a larger than normal number of sessions for the 2026 program, and maybe your session will be part of this history making event.

CALL FOR PRESENTATIONS FOR THE 2026 NGCRC 29th GANG SPECIALIST TRAINING CONFERENCE:

              This is an official invitation for you to be a presenter at the 2026 NGCRC 29th Gang Specialist Training Conference to be held in Chicago, August 3 - August 5, 2026 at the Westin Michigan Avenue Hotel, 909 N. Michigan Ave, Chicago, IL.

             You want to act quickly on this invitation to become a presenter at the 2026 NGCRC conference. We are planning on some new and exciting events this year. You want to become a part of this exciting 2026 Conference. Please note, though, that no financial incentives of any kind can be offered. Presenters will be expected to be registered for the conference, unless special arrangements are made.

              You are cordially invited to submit a session proposal for the 2026 NGCRC gang training conference. You are allowed to submit and present more than one proposal.

              The presentations may vary in length from a minimum of one hour to a maximum of three hours. Most sessions are one or two hours in length. You will need to select a title that accurately reflects what people will learn in the session; you need to specify how long the session will last in duration; you need to decide which “tracks” your session will give credit for; you need to provide a short “abstract” or description of what the session will cover; and you need to provide a short "bio" about yourself.

             The "Session Proposal Form" is provided below for your use. Please follow that as a template or guideline. Feel free to call if you have questions (call 708-258-9111, just ask to speak with someone from the 2026 Curriculum Committee).

             If there was a topic you wanted to consider for a session, but you needed some information or clarification: then again, you are encouraged to call any time in this regard ---- for example, just to “run an idea” up the flag pole, would a certain topic be useful at the conference, etc. While the NGCRC is very good at nurturing new presenters, we are not able to offer you any type of financial assistance.
Here is some good advice to anyone interested in being a presenter at the NGCRC Conference: make sure that the content of your session corresponds to the title of your session. There is an evaluation form that all attendees complete, and they are asked to evaluation and provide a rating of between zero "0" (not effective) to ten "10" (very effective) as a range of how effective the speaker was. So do not subject yourself or the NGCRC to any potential criticism for having a misleading session title. The best way to avoid such a potential criticism is once you start your power point presentation, right after the title page, your second page of the power point presentation should be an outline of what is actually covered in your session. You might also created a page for what is not covered in your session, in both cases at the start up of your session. This way, if someone is looking or shopping for a specific issue, they have time to get up and leave right away and go to a different session. There are always 8 or 9 or more sessions going on at once.

             Your proposal(s) will be evaluated by the 2026 Curriculum Committee. We are usually able to get back to you with a decision in ten (10) days. You can use the form below or a facsimile of this form to submit your session proposal.

             Provide a cover letter that gives your full name, title, organizational affiliation, and complete mailing address and contact information (phone, fax, email, etc). You are encouraged to attach a curriculum vita or resume to indicate your education and occupational achievements. Your presentation is expected to be prepared in advance as a formal power point type of presentation, ideally with handouts you provide. It is imporant that you understand that a one hour course gives you only 55 minutes of talk time, because using the "Golden Rule" of NGCRC Presenters, you need to be leaving the room at minute 56 allowing minutes 56-60 for the transition and set-up of the next presenter entering the training room. So prepare a power point and allow whatever discussion Q&A time you think is appropriate at the end of the presentation so that it is all about 55 minutes in length if you have a one hour time slot.

             Please submit your session proposal soon, call if you have any questions. Fax it to: (708) 258-9546 and then mail it to make sure we get it: NGCRC, 2026 Curriculum Committee, PO Box 990, Peotone, IL 60468. Warning: The call for presenters will close early this year.

             Go to the NGCRC website (www.ngcrc.com) to get a convenient “Session Proposal Form”, and to see a list of topics we are looking for, and other useful information such as training track topics or subject areas.

Topics We Are Looking For Presenters:

"Building Trust Between Actors in a Gang Violence Reduction Strategy"

"The Development and Use of Effective Deconfliction Channels in the Prevention of Gang Violence"

"Gang and Extremist Involvement in Swatting Incidents"

"Gang and Chinese Organized Crime Involvement in Crime and Violence on Marijuana Farms: The Recent Examples Highlighted by NBC including Homicide in Oklahoma and California"

"Resolving Issues About the Identification of Gang Members and the Maintenance of Confidential Investigatory Gang Digital/Database Files"

"The Dynamics of Hybrid Gangs: How They Evolve and Develop"

"Brady and Massiah Training for Jail Staff"

“Gang Investigation Enhancement Through AI”

"Victim Services for Communities Under Attack From Armed Gangs"

"Victimology Outreach in Gang Homicide Cases"

"Gang and Organized Crime Activity on the Dark Web: Advanced Internet Investigation"

"Developing Ways to Treat PTSD For Staff Exposed to Gang Violence"

"Examples of Gang Crime Investigation/Prosecution of Hybrid Gangs"

"Open Source Gang Investigation"

"Review of the Money Laundering Apps Used by Gangs and OC: CashApp, Venmo, Paypal, Zelle, World Remit, OFX, TransferWise, Xe, CurrenciesDirect, HiFX, Remtly"

"How To 'Gang Proof' the School Zones in Your Jurisdiction".

"History of Explosive Device Incidents With Threat Groups: Extremist/Hate Groups, Street Gangs, Motorcycle Gangs, Cartels, and Organized Crime"

“How to Achieve Better Community Relations and Still Achieve Effective Gang Enforcement”.

"Starting a Gang Victim Support Group in Your Community"

"How to Achieve Pure Primary Gang Prevention in the School".

"Achieving Gang Prevention for Tomorrow by Targetting Gang Leadership Today".

"Zero to Low Cost Gang Prevention and Intervention Program Services You Can Offer in Your Jurisdiction".

“How to Start a Gang Court in Your County”.

"Innovative Techniques for Interviewing Gang Members and Gang Associates".

"What We Really Need for Gang Prevention Laws in the Next Decade"

"The Use of the Polygraph in Gang Interviews/Debriefings".

"What We Really Need for Gang Investigation Skills in the Next Decade"

"How to Start a New Gang Dissociation Program in Your Correctional Facility".

"How the Federal Procurement Process Works for Getting Federal Grants and Funding for Your Gang Prevention/Intervention Program: NIJ, OJJDP and Others"

"New Technology to Fight the War Against Gang Violence".

"Developing Legislation to Require the Use of Small Arms Ballistic Projectile Trace Taggants to Aid the Investigation of Gun Violence in the USA".

"Dealing With Gangs on the Reservation"

"Gang Involvement in Credit Card Fraud"

"Gang Involvement in Identity Theft"

"An Analysis of Native American Gangs" .

"Best Practices for Counseling Gang Crime Victims"

“The Anatomy of a Gang Prosecution: From Crime Scene to Final Appeals and Parole Hearings”

"Advanced Gang Identification About Crips"

"Advanced Gang Identification for Blood Gangs".

"Recent Developments in Hate Groups/White Racist Extremist Gangs".

 "How to Investigate Social Media Usage by Gang Members"

"New Laws that We Really Need for Gang Prosecution in the Next Decade"

"How to Monitor the Internet Sites Related to Your Community That May Have Gang Shout Outs and Gang-Related Activity (Recruiting, Gang Message Boards, etc)"

"New Policies/Procedures We Need in Corrections to Deal More Effectively With Gangs/STG in the Next 10 years".

"Things that Work and Don't Work in Dealing With Gang Members in Juvenile Correctional Facilities"

"How to Effectively Use Anonymous Cash Rewards for Solving Cold Case Gang-Related Crimes".

"New Policies/Procedures We Need in K-12 Public Schools to Deal More Effectively With Gangs in the Next 10 Years".

"How to Start a New Faith-Based Gang Prevention/Intervention in Your City".

"How to Increase Respect for the Law Among At-Risk Youths and Gang Members"

"How to Implement a Gang Victim Assistance Program"

"Building Trust in Our Communities: Overcoming the Stop Snitching Gang Distrust Problem"

"How to Increase Ethnic, Racial and Cross-Cultural Tolerance Within a Gang or At-Risk Population"

"Gangs and Organized Crime Involvement in the Sale of Body Parts"

"Gang Involvement in Human Trafficking"

"The Use of Drone Technology in Gang Investigation"

"Factors in Mitigation: The Role of the Mitigation Consultant in Gang Criminal Cases".

"The Gangs in South Africa"

THRASHER AWARDS: A Call for Nominations

            The Thrasher Award is named in honor of Frederic Milton Thrasher, the author of the classic 1927 study of Chicago gangs, who generated the first social scientific analysis of gangs. Some say he started a new field of study: gangology.

Thrasher is best known for his book The Gang: 1,313 Gangs in Chicago.

            The Thrasher Awards recognize outstanding contributions in research, scholarship, service, leadership, and other related accomplishments in dealing with gang problems.

            The Thrasher Award is international in scope, and has recognized a number of different experts and leaders in countries outside of the Unites States. Foreign recipients in the past have included gang experts from South Africa, the West Indies, Canada, Turkey, Great Britain, El Salvador, and Denmark.

            The Thrasher Awards began in 1997 and have been a feature of the Offical Opening Ceremony of the NGCRC's annual international gang specialist training conference ever since.            If you know someone who has achieved something outstanding in this area, then please send your nominations to: The 2026 Thrasher Awards Committee, National Gang Crime Research Center, P.O. Box 990, Peotone, IL 60468. You can fax these as well: (708) 258-9546. You can email as well to: gangcrime@aol.com

            Your nomination should be in the form of an official letter addressed to the NGCRC's 2026 Thrasher Awards Committee. It should indicate the primary category of accomplishment: remember the Thrasher Award recognizes outstanding contributions in research, scholarship, service, leadership, and other related accomplishments in dealing with the gang problem. Provides as much detail as you can and include any supportive documentation you feel is relevant (news coverage, endorsements, program history, historical summaries, etc). In no case should the full nomination narrative letter and supportive documentation exceed thirty typed pages.

            As a general guideline, for "how to prepare" a nomination: one cover letter, and then whatever attachments and documents you feel are necessary to support the nomination. Attachments can include: statements or letters from others, corroborating the nomination, newspaper coverage, any forms of documentation that can support the nomination.

            Thrasher Awards will be made at NGCRC's 2026 Twenty Ninth International Gang Specialist Training Program for persons who have made outstanding contributions in research, scholarship, service, leadership, and other accomplishments in dealing with the gang problem. These Awards cannot be made in absentia.

            Thrasher Awards are made on-site during the NGCRC Training Conference in a special ceremony. Awards ceremony time and date is as follows: Monday, 7:00am, August 3, 2026, Chicago Ballroom, Westin Michigan Avenue Hotel. Consult the website for more information: https://ngcrc.com/conference.html

            Award Recipients must be seated in the front row area. Arrive just before 7am and check in with the staff in front, tell the security that you are an Award Recipient.