Our History
Fresno Barrios Unidos (FBU) is a grass root organization created in 1994 as a result for the need of gang prevention and intervention programs. FBU belongs to the National Coalition Barrios Unidos. The founder of FBU, Nane Alejandrez, first started the organization from the back of his car. Mr. Alejandrez had returned back from serving in the U.S. Military, and after losing several of his family members to gang violence, found himself fighting a different war.
FBU found success as a fighting force against gangs in southeast Fresno by working closely with the Fresno Police Department, Probation Department, Juvenile Hall, Fresno Unified School District and other community based organizations. FBU through after school programs, classes at Juvenile Hall, life school programs, civic engagement and parent support groups, has provided youth with alternatives to gangs and has assisted several youth in leaving gang lifestyles.
Through our work in gang prevention, FBU quickly found that violence was not the only risky behavior in which gang members were participating. Teen pregnancy and high cases of sexually transmitted infections had become a part of gang lifestyles. In 1999 FBU incorporated comprehensive reproductive education as part of the FBU curriculum being taught at Juvenile Hall and in after school programs. In 2001, FBU in collaboration with Planned Parenthood, Fresno County Health Department, University Medical Center, and the Economic Opportunity Commission, was able to provide, free reproductive health services to at-risk youth in a non-medical, youth friendly environment. This was the first program of its kind in the City of Fresno's history. FBU quickly became an advocate for at-risk youth and their families.
Since 2004, FBU has participated in the East Metro Family to Family collaborative. This collaborative was originally organized by the Fresno County Department of Children and Family Services, and is a community driven organization. Family to Family is supported by the Fresno Police Department, Department of Probation, Fresno Unified School District, foster parents, and Social Workers. FBU works closely with this collaborative to help at-rist families and to keep their children safe. FBU staff attends monthly Family to Family meetings, planning meetings, and Child Protective Services case meetings.
Fresno Barrios Unidos provides knowledge and opportunities to ensure that youth, families, and individuals reach their full potential in order to maintain nurturing and healthy environments. Our goal is to make information easily accessable to the community, in order for youth, families and individuals to improve their quality of life. FBU currently does this by providing our community with parenting classes, after school programs, mentoring programs, and educational health fairs throughout Fresno County.