The growth of Pacific Islander gangs in Utah -- as well as ideas for how to reverse the trend -- will be the topic of discussion at the first Pacific Islander Leadership Summit on Criminal Justice this week.

The Utah Department of Community and Culture's Office of Ethnic Affairs will host the event, scheduled for Thursday from 6 p.m. to 9 p.m. at the State Capitol rotunda.

The summit will address Pacific Islander culture, gangs and how to connect families with resources as a way to steer people away from the gang lifestyle. Leaders from Utah's Pacific Islander community have been invited to attend.

Fotu Katoa, Utah's director of Pacific Islander Affairs, said the summit will provide an opportunity to address crime in the Pacific Islander community.

"The past, present and future gang issues within the Pacific Islander community cannot be addressed single-handedly by an individual or an institution," Katoa said in statement released Tuesday.

"Everyone must come together and unite our efforts to share information, identify available resources and find solutions."

The summit will be the first in a series of meetings focused on gang violence in Utah, Katoa said.