New London - In two different places in New London Monday night, close to 200 residents attended meetings on how the city should respond to violence among young people on its streets.

More than 100 people attended the inaugural meeting of the New London Anti-Violence Activist Group - organized by friends of 25-year-old Matthew Chew, who was stabbed to death Oct. 29, a crime six "bored" teenagers are charged with committing - enough that it prompted a change in venue from Bean & Leaf coffee house to a room at the Garde Arts Center.

Some of the same people were in attendance at a meeting of the City Council Public Safety Committee, where citizens offered ideas on how to help troubled youth, ranging from creating a community center to school programs, enforcing curfews, and, crucially, asking young people how they can help.

John Pescatello, the chairman of the newly formed Anti-Violence Activist Group, said he was pleased with the turnout and hoped the interest results in something tangible.

"We don't want to be known for our meetings," Pescatello said. "We want to be known for our action."

The group, which plans to meet the third Monday of every month, already has begun to reach out to organizations like the United Way and the Neighborhood Alliance and hopes to meet with local clergy.

At the Garde, Pescatello and his six other co-founders passed out sheets of paper asking the attendees to write down what they would like the group's objectives to be.

Pescatello then opened the floor for a 90-minute, wide-ranging discussion about youth violence that addressed larger societal problems and more practical matters, such as keeping the school building open longer.

Jerry Fischer of the Jewish Federation of Eastern Connecticut said the city should address what happens to teenagers once they leave the structure of the school system.

"There should be career paths, apprenticeships," Fischer said.

Maureen Brigham of New London said something should be done to help the mothers who are raising children on their own.

"We have to empower them to help them empower their children," Brigham said.

New London police officer Anthony Nolan, who has long worked with the city's youth, downplayed the idea of opening a community center, saying it would be unlikely to get taxpayer support.

"We have space in the schools," Nolan said. "I think we should keep them open later."

Nolan cautioned that groups like the Anti-Violence Activist Group sometimes lose momentum.

"The problem is continuing to do what we do," Nolan said. "People give up, and who does it hurt? The kids."

Kris Dunning, who works at a bar downtown and often walks home, also wants the group to look seriously at the problems faced by city youth.

"Are we willing to get our hands dirty?" Dunning asked.

Pescatello countered that the new group "isn't going anywhere."

At the Public Safety Committee, 25 speakers covered similar topics as those at the Garde.

Chris Wright of the Women's Center of Southeastern Connecticut encouraged the public schools to take fuller advantage of the organization's anti-violence programs.

"It's not the be-all and end-all, but it can help students deal with conflict," Wright said.

Cheryl Lawrence, a paraprofessional in the school system, did not agree with the idea of building a community center and encouraged city youth to take advantage of recreation programs already in place.

Frank Colmenares, 20, a New London High School graduate, said that younger people in New London should mentor teens to give them role models.

"The kids need to focus on their strengths," Colmenares said.

s.chuapska@theday.com