Wichita ? A resurgence in gang violence will be met with strong resistance and a long-term comprehensive plan, community activists and police said.

An advisory group that was formed to address gang problems revealed its strategy, which includes mobilizing the community and developing training and job opportunities for young gang members.

To Beverly Gutierrez, who created Mothers Against Gang and Gun Violence in 1993, the revival of anti-gang efforts is welcome news. The most important thing, she said, is having a plan to connect with gang members and improve their self-confidence.

“Just keeping tough on them and trying to keep them from congregating, that’s not going to do it,” Gutierrez said. “They have to be somebody.”

In 1993, at least 12 of the city’s 57 homicides were gang-related. And some fear the violence may be returning.

The new coalition was formed by the Wichita Police Department after an increase in drive-by shootings in February 2005.

Deputy Police Chief Tom Stolz promised support for the 50-member coalition and 15-member advisory group.

“We’re going to give this group some clout from our end with how we police gangs and the kinds of enforcement things we do,” Stolz said.

Stolz said police officers would support any events the group might plan. The department also will provide statistics or other data the group needs to help further its mission.

The Rev. Scott Dryden, the executive director of Wichita Dream Center, a nonprofit, faith-based social service program, said the group met through the summer.

With its plan in place, the group is now looking for other organizations to get involved. In-kind services and monetary donations are needed, Dryden said.

“The whole goal of the community mobilization is to cast a vision that everyone buys into,” he said.

Gutierrez said the community’s failure to care about kids in gangs is partly why gangs continue to exist.

“They don’t think those kids are worth helping,” she said. “They don’t want to help them. They want to get rid of them and their foolishness.”

Dryden said the group realizes that ending gang violence is a long-term goal.

“We’re going to be persistent, he said. “It will break down the resistance.”