PACOIMA : 2 Honored for Work to Prevent Gangs

Two community activists were honored Wednesday by students at Maclay Junior High School in Pacoima for their efforts to keep youths involved in sports and other activities instead of gangs.

Fred Nobles and Ana Alvarez were praised for their support of Project Interface, a program that involves community and business leaders in the school, coordinator Esther Lombardi said.

Nobles helped organize a youth soccer team that later won the San Fernando Valley championship. Alvarez is the director of programs at a nearby federal housing project and has been instrumental in getting community support for Project Interface, Lombardi said.