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Boston Globe

A work progam in Lynn for troubled youths helps them to separate …
Boston Globe – United States
In Lynn, the gang capital of the North Shore, there are some 35 gangs with an estimated 1400 total members, said Lynn Police Sergeant Ed Nardone, …

This from one of our team…in response to a Pastor seeking to help a gang member in his congregation.

It is important to realize that often getting out gangs you have to understand that there is sometimes a cult like mentality. Sometime they will want to stray back, or have trouble dropping the lifestyle. Like a cult also the members of the group may threaten the safety of the one wanting out as well as try to repeatedly persuade him to stay.

Support, thru your church will make a good impact…as long as he ALWAYS knows he has someone there to turn to in times of crisis. Also associating with good and positive people will help fill the void that was there and provide ongoing support, kind of like getting someone off of drugs or alcohol.

The good news is that making a proclamation of faith is reportedly one of the few ways that gang members have shown to get out of the gang. In the book, Suburban Gangs, Dan Korem’s research indicates that the Missing Protector Factor is one of the main contributors to gang involvement. He states that when young people have someone they can turn to in times of crisis, that they can have ongoing contact with (say two or more times per week…even if only for a few moments) they tend to be easier to get away from the gang life.

For many young people a gang has become their family. It is all they have often. The only place they have put their trust. With you all he is going to have to have family to replace that new void. While we all fall sometimes it is critical that he feels that his new family is willing to help him get on his feet. While he should learn independence, at first he will need to be supported in many ways.

Keeping him involved in the Word will also help. This will give him something positive to focus on, and as it says, is like a sword against that which will tempt him.

I would like to see him be able to move from his area though. While sometimes that is not possible, getting away from that crowd is often a very critical part of “rehab.”

You have to treat it like dealing with both a cult and an addiction. An alcoholic does not need to be exposed to other drunks at least as much as you can make that happen as possible.

I can tell you this, he is not alone. There are many, many gang members who write us wanting to get out. In fact most likely he is not the only one within his gang that wants out as well.

Believe

I was born and raised in a tough neighborhood but growing up as a child was good. Although I didn’t have everything I had enough to survive. Both of my parents lived with me along with my two brothers.

It wasn’t until my teenage years when I started experiencing “gang life.” My middle school was horrible. I lived next to
another infamous neighborhood . My neighborhood was full of Hispanics and of course, we always rumbled with our rivals. As I think back I couldn’t believe how young those kids were who would bring guns and knives to school. I got caught up in middle school but I survived. Some didn’t though. I had many classmates and friends die simply because they belonged to a gang.

There’s always hope though and I’m living proof of that. After getting away from all the violence I finished high school. Now i’m in my third year of college and I’m still going. I have a good paying job at an accounting firm and I have a daughter. Thinking back I realize that everything I went through as a boy made me the man I am today. It was tough but I survived. It could have been worse.

So to all you gang bangers who think there’s nothing better life can offer to you, you’re wrong. There’s always hope out there no matter how bad your situation is.

Never give up and hold your head up high.
BELIEVE!!!!!! R. Guerra

Life’s True Story

When i was 18 I met a what I thought was a really nice guy.. He was a Friend

of my brothers.. I knew he was in a gang but his personality didn’t match

cheated on me nothing like that he was really good to me..  We talked and

chilled for a long time before we hooked up.. Well we hooked up and things

started to get serious.. He had done some robberies and and mugged people

broke into houses and stuff just so we could survive.. He wouldn’t allow me

to work. I never knew why untill the day he was murdered.. He always told me

he wouldn’t have his girl working he was going to support her.. So in 1999

when we got married and had our son.. I still didn’t work but we lived a

comfortable life..  I was no part of a gang, never joined one, never claimed

to be in one.. Well in the summer of 2000 my husband robbed a house in a

rival gangs territory.. they came after him shot him and our house up.. He

survived through it.. I loved him and until that point we were never faced

with danger.. Well in the winter of 2000 he decided to lay low and be an

active member anymore.. this was to protect our son and myself.. well that

lasted for a short time.. In February of this year my husband was shot and

killed because he didn’t die the first time the rival gang shot him… My

husband was a good man.. Yes he was in a gang, but he never physically hurt

anyone and he provided for us very well.  Not only did that rival gang have

it out for him but they now have it out for my son and myself.  My son is

almost 2 years old and never done anything to anyone why should he die.. I

will tell you why these people want him dead.. They want him dead because of

his father..  As I mentioned my husband would not allow me to work.. I now

know that is was for my safety cause every one knew we were married. So they

would go after me just as fast as they would him..

So all in all gangs hurt every one.. even those who don’t belong to one. My

son now has to grow up without his father cause of bad choices that were

made.. It’s not fair to me or my son.  I just wish all you want to be gang

bangers and and those who know people who are in gangs knew how much it

effects every one..  And gangs are not just in big cities cause I live in a

fairly small town that is run by gang members.. And gang members can’t always

be identified by their clothing anymore either… Please take a moment to

think before you do anything stupid..

“Respect and pride was what i wanted, fear and violence was how i got it, Back then that was all i wanted, back then that was all i needed, I followed this lifestyle without a care in thr world, not knowing if I would live the next day to see my girl,I fought other gangs for territory,not realizing i was only fighting my brother, I finally realized i wasnt meant to be in the royal family(LK), I just want other kids to know they are not meant to be there either and if ur already in Plz try to get out, if u think on getting in…plz dont….u think its gona be fun? Its not, if you need protection go to Church….God will protect u 100%”  – SAM

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My name is Greg Lucero I’m 43 years old and I am a former gang member and have witnessed over the past 30 years the countless deaths of young men who never began to live. I see it as a waste of life that God has given and the devil has taken away through violence and lies, because after all he is the father of all lies. And the lies he spreads is one of brotherhood, of belonging to something greater than yourself, security in numbers and making a name for yourself. The reality is that the gang life is a dead end road that only has two destinations, the grave or a prison cell. And the pain it causes on both sides, whether you are killed or you are the killer is great.

I live in Stockton, Ca. a population of 280,000 people and last year theFBIreported that Stockton was No.2 in violent crimes per capita in California and No.8 in the nation and the gang wars here have raged on for over 30 years. In response the authorities have really cracked down on gang-related crimes with gang enhancements that have put a lot of young men in prison for life. This is what has inspired me to create the comic book series “Soldier of darkness” and also to start the website http://www.gangs187.com because I wanted to show the realities of gang life which is prison or death.

As a Christian I see it more than just thugs being killed or incarcerated. I see it as God’s children lost and in darkness and even more I sometimes see it as a person who has lost their soul and not sure of where that person ended up. Did they have time to ask God for forgiveness for their life of violence and hate? That is the bigger picture, because we all must someday stand and give an account for our lives here on earth. My prayer is that you would read my comic and check out my website and see for yourself the reality of being a gang member. And drop me a comment. God bless.

In Christ,
Greg Lucero

My Life

My Name is Nancy I was born and raised in Houston, Tejas I am 18 yrs. old but feel like I am 30.I have lived through alot of things in mi vida.I got six brothers and I am the only girl.The baby in the family.I am going to tell you bout my vida.So lets start when I was 09.My mother had left me and mi famlia and my dad was always working so my older brother Jose took care of us.

He wasn’t alot of help he was always in and out of jail he was a gangbanger he was in LP he was always slanging and getting into alot of trouble.And my 2nd oldest brother Juan well he hung around my oldest brother he was 17 my other 2 brothers lived with my uncle in Califas and my two other well we hung out alot we good up until I turned 12 then my older  brother Juan started teaching me to fight and would make me fight other girls all the time.When that got old he started to teach me how to break into cars and break into houses I didn’t want to but I had no choice and when I was doing all this my older brother caught a murder case and was in jail for 10years to life.Me and my two brother Carlos and Tony would alwayz chill together until I was 15 then Tony was 18 and got married and started a life of his own.So it was just me and Carlos.Carlos was real smart he was 16 and still going to school and in the 12th grade I was going to but not as much cuz Juan was alwayz making me do things.Calos always told me when he got of school and saved up enough money he was going to take us away and get apartment of our own that way we can start over,well at 15 I got put in juvenile for assualt with a deadly weapon I put a girl in the hospital for a week cause i beat her so bad no just with my hand but with a bat after my hand got tired i was in jail till I was 16.

Well now I was 16 and my brother got me to slang and I liked it at that time because it was money in my pocket so I got klicked in to LP got tattooed up did drugs and drank now robbing stores and people.While Carlos was saving money up working 2 jobs.I got high every day and eventually dropped out of schoolMy the time I wass 16 I been through 6 juveniles .One day mi carnal Juan came home and sounded like he was running from someone so I was kinda scared.I asked him what happen but he didn’t tell me.The next day my brother Carlos told me that in 2days are plain was going to be starting that he had got apartment and we were going to move in.Well he was so happy he took me walking to go see itbut my borther called and told is to get his drug case and bring it to him at the park.Well we were walking through moody park thats were my other brother Juan hung out to slang and gangbang.We stop to talk to him and give him his stuff and told him to come with us he said no so we started walking away.When we did A black 4door cadallac went by real slow and rolled down the window and opend fired gun shots were loud and every where I hit the floor fast the next thing I know my brother Carlos hit the floor and grabbed him and I put my body over his so he wouldn’t get hit.When the car left .I asked Carlos if he was ok and he said yes.He never could tell the truth because he didn’t want to hurt me.I rolled him over there was blood all over his shirt 5 bullet wounds to his chest.He told me right before he closed his eyes that he loved me and wanted me to get out of the hood and he knew I would cuz he loved me.

I was crying forever and soon as the cops came and the funeral was over I kept blaming myself thinking maybe if we never would of cut through the park to ask my brother to give him his stupid drugs maybe he would be alive.But soon as I remember my brothers last words I packed up and left to the apartment he bought for us and I got a job.Now I am 18 and glad to be alive and now I got my GED and going to college to be a juvenile Detension officer to help kids to get away from situations just like mine.If someone like me can change so can you.My brother Juan is now in jail and isen’t getting out for 2 more years.Don’t wait to let a death happen to someone you love so that you can change to it before it can ever happen.A crazy life will just cause you death not just death but locked up behind bars for the rest of your life take it from me a regret everything I ever did maybe things would have been different if I would have changed along time ago maybe my brother wouldn’t be 6 feet underground so think about it.

Nancy

Memory Lane

Wanna go for a ride with me

Take a lil trip down a road not too many ppl get to see

Come on sit next to me

Lets a take a lil trip to a world that’s realer than any make believe

Take a lil trip down memory lane with me

Here we pass the good times

When I waz young and carefree

The times before i started realizing what a gang could do for me

before I started believin that my pride could save me..

Before a rag hung frum my head

and pride tatted on my sleeves

Yea see that lil girl in pig tails, a frilly dress too

Yea that gurl waz me… way back when you see…

Keep looking. Were not thru wit this ride

We got a lot more yet to see

Take a lil trip wit me..

don’t close ur eyes

This is reality

This is what my life has done for me

Here we go for a real ride

Barely 9. Years old.. Livin life as good as gold

See that man layin there

Thatz my daddy after his accident

After school to the hospital I went

Seein him layin there screws in his head

Barely 10, knowin my dad was half way dead

Never be able to walk again, doctors comin in

Rush us out.. He needs to rest…

that left life for the rest of us

don’t turn your head

Im still not done

This is the way it truly waz

You wanted real.. Here ya go

Take a trip.. In the end you will know…

Here you see me getting a lil older

This is when I started hangin on the streets and the corners

This is the times

I learned what certain words meant

And how fast a dime could get sold…

And a body could fold

This is when I saw first hand

What happens when sum ppl don’t understand

The rules of the game.. Or the rights and wrongs when we play…

Nobody wins and we all bleed the same way

You think you have seen enuf

But we aren’t half way thru

This is the my life

You’re on a ride of a lifetime

Sit back and open up ur eyez

Its ok.. Cry if you need to cry

I still shed tears frum these tired eyes

See that’s me over there.. Wit mah man of the year

My first true love

The man I thought came frum above

Yea that’s him showin me the ropes

Showin me how to finally cope

Yea that’s him too.. On the corner sellin dope

Name of the game.. The one he played

Hes the first one to want me to take his last name

Little kid lust.. Or maybe even love

Ended with a gunshot & blood shed.. Then he drifted up above

Wipe those tears away

Its gonna be ok

Im better now.. Its no longer this way

I kno it hurts to see the truth

Reality hits you and tears you in two

This ride nots over

We aren’t thru

Lets pick up the pieces and ride thru

Here I am again with mah new man

He brought me into a familia

Theres where I got beat up till I couldn’t stand

Thatz the love of bein one of them

Sure their bruises and broken bones

But its ok.. They are juz sore

In the end I will win

With them on my side.. I wont give in

I can’t lose this battle…after all my man is IN

Were still ridin

Rollin thru the memories of my crew

The memories of the times

I shared wit many

and hurtful eyes

don’t mind me.. If I start to cry

juz sit back and ride

that’s my 14th birthday party

See my crew..

My boyz standin there dressed in their blues

that’s a forty in my hand.. Drink after drink…

Till I could no longer stand

The effects they had on me.. HAD me do things

You don’t want to see

But at that time.. That was me

Barely 14.. Barely able to see

anything different than my familia ring

throwin up signs.. that meant everything

part of a clique..I thought would die for me

Had to bury three that year… and I still couldn’t see

come on homie.. take a ride wit me

take a trip down memory lane

we have places to see

Barely 14 skippin skool all the time

I waz too busy out committin crimes

Too busy getting in fights

Shootin bullets.. And runnin in the night

Didn’t sleep, and couldn’t think

Drugs consumed my life.. Made me feel complete

But in the end took thangs so precious frum me

Started shootin to survive

9 in my hand… and no where to run

Never could be found without a gun

Yes your seein right..

That was me.. And this is a picture of my life

I kno it doesn’t seem real

But it was realer than life

I put so many people through senseless strife

Left my mom cryin.. Home alone at night

Sit back while I continue this wild ride

Buried soo many thru this year.

Cried so many unforgotten tears

Poured bottle after bottle out thru the year

Lives.. Lost .. Never too high of a cost

Juz another homie who lost..

Turned 15 while I was still sellin drugs

Shootin ppl and neighborhoods up

My man stood beside me

Till he choose to knock me down

yea that’s me.. With the bruises all around

Seems I said sumthin I shouldn’t have

That one was for looking back

The black eye that time

was frum supposedly talkin to sum guy

Seems he took all my friends frum me

Now all I got left

Is him, my gang, my homies.. And me…

See that’s the life I led

Left so many ppl dead

don’t cry for me…

Im stronger now

Left all that behind sumhow

This isn’t over yet

So sit back and watch all the things that I regret…

Got a call today my dad was dyin

But he still had his bottle sittin beside him

Couldn’t put it down no more

Even though he couldn’t hold it on his own

Sumbody had to help his addiction

This broke my heart

Becuz he lost everything he believed in

I wasn’t doin what he wanted me to be

I wasn’t who he wanted me to be

I remember a time when he too believed in me…

that’s all over now.. Hes finally set free

Maybe frum Heaven he will be able to see me

The tears start fallin now

They wont stop sumhow

Keep ur eyes open and ur mind awake

We aren’t done

And this isn’t fate

Your ridin till the end of the stakes

That’s my 15th birthday

Juz another day… getting wasted before the part’y

Again my boyz by my side

Never leavin alone.. Always showin my pride

I should have been having cake and ice cream

Yet I was finishing a bottle of jose…

Made reality seem easy to me

After about 8 shots.. I could no longer see

Didn’t realize my childhood had been taken frum me…

See how fast things slip away

We have lost so many days

And I still stayed the same way

I watched people die right before me

that’s the life I led…

Now watch as we ride think about what I have said

A few months had since passed

I went out one night for a ride

A Simple ride… questioning if I should stay in the life

Tears fell that frightful night

Hear those screams.. They came frum me

We pulled up to a house bout’ midnight

Shut off all the lights & were gonna sit and talk all night

Got out the car, to go inside

Heard the blasts. Felt the sting

Realized it meant only one thing

All I could do was scream …Seein his blood surround me

As he begged me to not leave

Lost my bestfriend that night… in a blood bath that no one could fight

I retaliated.. And fought my best

No number of bullets could take the rest

They took my heart that night.. And left me cold

What is it getting to hard for you

To real for you to see

To hard for you to think.. This is me

Take a ride.. Sit back and think.. Close ur eyes and realize

This was my gangster life

A few weeks later I got the news

A baby was gonna be born to me and you

Barely 15 and gonna have kid

How would we ever live

Thought you would stand beside me..

The whole time knowin I had to get out for mine

I knew I had to put down that nine

Yea that’s me pregnant and a “G”

I was a gangster.. That was me….

Had to try to stop my addiction

Could no longer get my fix

got depressed and lost a lotta weight

Yea that’s me couldn’t recognize..

In the hospital hooked up to machines

I was so sick and so was the baby inside of me

Its ok to cry those tears

I can see through your fears

Juz take this as a lesson learned

don’t never follow in the footsteps of what you learned

Watch and see.. But don’t ever be like me

Lets take a trip down memory lane…

Theres juz parts of my past..

I will let you see more as time will elapse..

I hope you realized sumthin on ur trip

Its hard to be where you are..

And harder to think about where you been

don’t ever be like me.. NO MATTER WHEN!

Lil Mac