A World Champion in martial arts and kickboxing, CIS Executive Director, William "Blinky" Rodriguez has a long
historyof working with youth. The work became very personal in 1990 when Blinky's own family fell victim to gang
violence. Sonny, his 16-year old son was killed in a drive-by shooting. It was this tragedy that inspired Blinky to
dedicate his life to ending gang violence. Despite intense anger, hurt and grief, Blinky and his wife, Lilly, had the
courage to meet the three killers face to face in the courtroom, not for retribution, but to forgive them. The news of
the forgiveness spread among the gangs, and when Blinky called for the gangs to meet with him, they met and
listened. Blinky negotiated a truce, called the Valley Unity Peace Treaty, which was signed by over 75 gangs with over
1,000 members. The treaty successfully reduced gang-related deaths in the following year in Los Angeles from 52 to
2. This peace treaty project lead to CIS San Fernando Valley, a non-profit organization formed in 1994.
The peacekeeping efforts of CIS were the subject of a
study, funded by the California State Legislature under AB
2650. Conducted by Cal State University at Northridge, it
found the peace treaty to be effective in demonstrating
peacekeeping strategies and recommended that it be
replicated statewide. CIS has been named the "model"
program for gang intervention by the State of California, LA
County and the City of L.A. Since 1997, individuals,
corporations, foundations and public entities have invested
millions of dollars in the work of CIS of the San Fernando
Valley and Greater Los Angeles.
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