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The pictures below are a “before and
after” shot to show that
even if you can clean up an area, it is difficult to “KEEP” it
clean. Is it possible to build the capacity of a family to move
away from ‘their mind set’ and change? How does a long-term answer
emerge, and what can we learn from these sets of pictures? GXG
Teams worked with this crew as they slowly changed. Eventually they
were unable to ‘hold’ their territory, and were publicly were jacked
(1998). Now, 8 years later, they are back.
WE had some
crews who made it … and so, why not this one? |
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In 1997 we learned that, with love,
you can effectively influence a person Gang affiliated. Originally,
we did intervention, and then learned prevention was even more
important. If we didn’t target their little brothers and sisters,
it was only a matter of time, till
the incarcerated uncles, and cousins, come home. Kids are
affected by their role models (Those who are available, influence
them).
To change a neighborhood, we need more then basic Juvenile
Services: We need a weed and the ‘seed’.
We found we couldn’t do it all ourselves and we needed others to
sustain a long term change. If we had linked to other services
quicker, we could have responded to more families.
Generational gangsters, can be changed with love.
An ounce of prevention, is better then a pound of
intervention. |
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How Does This Relate To Why Kids Join Gangs?
Gangs are only a byproduct of individual sharing
the same beliefs, or at least having
commonalities. We could take a gang of 10-20
members and sit them down separately for
questioning and ask them each: “Why did you join a
gang?”, and would probably get 2-3 common answers.
The need for Family (Belonging)
The need for Protection (Security)
The need for Popularity (Mass Acceptance)
There are other sub-reasons such as Peer Pressure,
Vengeance, Self-Destruction (Loss of Concern), AND
Generational Involvement.
Now, a child does not sit down and compare gangs
within his/her area to decide which one to join.
It doesn’t work that way. So how do they bridge
to a crew? The process typically looks like this:
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Living life with needs unmet, conclusions,
belief systems.
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Make Friends (6 yrs – 13 yrs.)
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Finds a group to relate & connect with
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Attaches his/herself with group (gangs for some)
For some, joining a gang somehow temporarily
satisfies the needs listed above. Between the
adolescent and teenage years, resources are few,
so Neighborhood Networks become one of the few
resources that they can reach easily and pull from
to “fix” the problem (unmet needs).
Many choose to not see or ignore help.
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Living Conditions +
responses, = our present life.
What are the visible options?
It
is less than admirable, what our world has quickly
become in regards to molding the minds of our
youth. Sometimes we want wring the necks of the TV
people who make heroes out of smart-alecky kids,
who treat their parents like idiots. The TV is a
class room that gives our children pointers on how
to out- think and to manipulate others. The
community at large is inheriting youth who are
practicing how they can ‘take’ center stage, to
get the attention they deserve…at any price.
Some youth, need a Motivational Rewrite that can
help them identify rewarding goals, by having
peers present realistic options. After we
initially link through any of the partnerships, we
need to help plug them into available follow-up
clinics and workshops that will empower youth to
continue building their capacity to succeed for
the challenges ahead.
Together we can help Youth Identify Means & Steps
towards Accomplishing These Goals. What VGPP has
made available, is visible youth trainers, who can
help our At-Risk youth make better decisions and
demonstrate how to live more productive and safer
lives. Together, our combined services can teach
Youth Coping Skills that help build a balanced
response.
VGPP have developed workshops that serve small
groups or individuals to help get and keep them
out of a gang. Building a support group network is
a key to Community or personal survival.
A Community Network really mobilizes our
neighborhoods’ ability to help reduce violent
behaviors and lifestyles; after school & in the
streets. On way to or from school, latch-key and
no-key kids will benefit from this enhanced
violence free areas.
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It’s Time to Respond!
TODAY, we have the opportunity to change this
equation by getting involved. We can slow down the
assembly line of the family downward spiral. We
can do this together!
WE NEED to do this, TODAY. If we are going to
continue to rediscover the problem, without
addressing it, then we are on our own treadmill. A
rut is a grave without the ends put in, (yet). The
final word hasn’t been written on this, IF you
will respond. Our youth have an option, if we make
it AVAILABLE AND VISIBLE.
Let’s focus on what is working and find our place
as part of the regional solution. Whatever each
team specializes in, regardless of their capacity
to serve, everyone is a resource. All are
valuable.
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What do you have to offer as a resource, and
where do you fit in?
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Are you capable of training other teams to build
their capacity, or do you need to have your
teams receive further training?
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Is
it possible that we provide that for each other?
Can you go to our web site, and Plug in? If you
want to volunteer, or to raise funding, or to
have a trainer come, we are ready.
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Can you train others? Why not partner for
a more complete response to those who would
contact any of us? We need to identify those
coordinators, who are committed to help other’s
build their capacity, and then help them get
trained - to train others.
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Where are you in this process, and can we help
you?
http://godsxgangsters.org/gangs/InformationAboutGangs.htm
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