Archives

Jun
22

They want me to join a gang. What should I do?

Hey man

Listen, the best thing you can do, is find someone else to hang out with. Misery loves company and that’s just what these guys are looking for. They’re always ready to take someone else in that can take their place serving time in jail and taking some bullets that were actually meant for them. But it sounds like you are smart enough to know that.

It doesn’t matter what excuse you give but definitely don’t fall into that trap. If you have a church group / youth group you can be a part of you can surround yourself with other young people who have chosen a better way than to live a life of slavery. And destruction.

I talk to kids through this website a lot. And almost all of them are trying to get out of the gangs they wished they’d never joined. Some of these guys and girls have been in for many years and hate it. They hate the mistake they made and can hardly undo. I mean OG type gangsters. Of course most of them are afraid to tell the others in their gangs that they want out. What kind of love or brotherhood is that that you can’t go and do as you want?

I’d spend less and less time with them, find a job or something. Even if its just mowing yards. Do whatever it takes to ease yourself away. You don’t have to be all confrontational about it either. Just ease your way out of it. Let God do some directing in your life. Whether you believe in God or not He most certainly believes in you. He does not care what you dress like or how you look. He does not expect you to get all straight before following Him. Take a close look at the people in the bible. Most of them come from really bad situations and really bad lifestyles. They were the kind of people others looked down on…so anyone is free to stick with God. Sometimes I think he prefers the everyday people and those who are suffering from oppression. In fact I know he does.

I’ve got tattoos everywhere and don’t “look” like a Christian according to what some so called Christians believe. But my heart is something that God is working on. I am not perfect, I do things wrong a lot, I say things I shouldn’t say and sometimes think things I shouldn’t think. But God despite how I make mistakes is always there to help me do better and help me to help others.

I wish you the best and I am certainly proud of people like you who have enough guts to think for themselves and the safety of their loved ones. You join a gang and you lose both of those things.

You write us and let us know how things are going. You always have brothers and sisters in this website, some of whom have been in the same places you are and some who have been in a lot worse.

take care and stay safe. Make wise decisions that will positively affect THE REST OF YOUR LIFE!

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Jun
18

How to help a friend out of a gang

Your friend is going to have to make the decision for himself to get out. No one else can make it for him. As a matter of fact, the more you ‘nag’ him on getting out, the more likely he will likely stay in…just to ‘prove’ that ‘no one is the boss of him.

Just state your case…and let him make the call. If he refuses to get out, tell him that you care about him, but he has lost a friend in you.

Real friends don’t hang with those who are working to do evil.

More to Come
Bro Mike

THE SHORT LIST FOR TEENS:
GETTING OUT OF GANG ACTIVITY
Do You REALLY WANT Out? OUT means OUT! Can’t Even Have the appearance of being a Banger! Must Drop Colors & Even Gang Friends. If need be: Go to the police and tell on yourself!

The Banger life is one that seeks to FILL a SPIRITUAL VOID. You AND your family must decide upon a POSITIVE SPIRITUAL DIRECTION. You NEED Jesus Christ & Membership In A Bible-believing Church, with a godly, male Pastor.

You MUST respect and involve your Parents! Especially IF you are a Juvenile Involved In Gang Activity. Number ONE Factor In Putting Wayward Teens In Check ARE Parents/Guardians, PERIOD! Come CLEAN with them BEFORE the cops show up!

Understand: Perseverance and Determination ARE part of normal maturity and growth processes. It’s About DEEDS, NOT Just TALK! DO! Don’t Just TALK! You Take It ONE DAY AT A TIME!

What Are Your Entertainment Choices? Just as one must ‘starve a fever to feed a cold’, you MUST ‘starve’ the negative by feeding the positive! Get Off The Rap/Hip Hop & Thug Prison Barge!

What about your Education? Pursue what you TRULY want to be when you grow up. There IS a difference between ‘Street’ vs. ‘Classroom’ Training. The ‘Video Game’ Life Is NOT Real!

BOTTOM LINE? ONCE you MAKE Choice, STICK WITH IT!

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Jun
17

WHAT A LOVED ONE CAN DO IF A FRIEND/FAMILY MEMBER WANT TO JOIN A GANG

WHAT A LOVED ONE CAN DO
IF A FRIEND/FAMILY MEMBER WANT TO JOIN A GANG

1. PRAY & REMIND Them That Gang Membership IS Dangerous.

2. PRAY & REPORT To Them That Gang Membership IS Going To
Cost Them YOUR Relationship.

3. MAKE SURE You Check Your OWN Connections To Jesus Christ & The Bible. This Is SPIRITUAL WARFARE At The Highest Level!

HOW TO HANDLE A POTENTIAL GANG MEMBER
WHO HAPPENS TO BE YOUR SON OR DAUGHTER

1. PRAY & REMIND Them That You Love Them, BUT Their New ‘Friends’ Will NOT Be Welcomed Into The Family Home!

2. PRAY & INFORM Them That You Will NOT Tolerate Items Coming Up ‘Missing’–Just So Your Child Can Impress Their Friends!

3. PRAY & TELL Them That You Would RATHER Allow The Police To Take Them Away…Than For A Mortician To PUT Them Away!

WHAT TO DO IF A CLIENT OR STUDENT
DECIDES TO GET INTO GANG ACTIVITY

1. PRAY & REMIND Them That They Have Free Choice In The Matter. Their Choice WILL Change Your Relationship With Them!

2. PRAY & EXPLAIN To Them About Others Whom You Have Read About And Know THEY HAVE LOST A LOT!

3. MAKE SURE You Check Your OWN Connections To Jesus Christ & The Bible. This Is SPIRITUAL WARFARE At The Highest Level!

MODERN STREET GANGS–GIVING MORE PAIN & LESS GAIN!

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Jun
16

Lead Others Out Of Gangs

This from Bro Mike

WHEN YOU DISCOVER…

When you discover the Value of an education,
You will be less likely drop out of, be suspended from,
Or, get expelled from school.

When you discover the Joy of honest work,
You will be less likely to rob, steal, boost or cheat
Others out of their stuff…because you’ll have earned your own stuff.

When you discover the True Love of marriage,
You will be less likely to abuse the opposite sex and will
Put forth your energies to mature and learn how to build your own happy home and family.

When you discover the History of your people,
You will be less likely to victimize them or commit crimes against them.

When you discover the Worth of your own body,
You will be less likely to abuse it with drugs, alcohol, tobacco or other things.

Lastly, when you discover the Purpose that God put you on earth for, and the love Jesus Christ has for you,
You will be less likely to get involved in a gang or crime EVER again!

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Jun
13

Should I join or leave a gang?

Well the votes are in. Cast over the 14 years of this site. Gangs given their growth appear to be an attractive proposition to young people.

But what about once you are in?

In the time we have been running this site, we have had about 5 emails from people saying they love the gang life and they will never change. On our boards we have had hard core bangers who have moved from expressing a desire to leave and then doing so. More telling is our weekly mail box. We get more requests on how to leave a gang in 2 days that we have had positive responses in 14 years.

If gangs were a product it would appear they have a branding problem. Most of their “customers” don’t like the product and find it is not what they signed up for. Most of their customers wish to return the product for a full refund and start their lives again without their affiliation.

So if you’re thinking of joining use the wisdom of the hundreds each year who write us asking how to leave. They have sampled the product. The chances of the experience being different for you than it was for them are slim.

“This life ain’t to be glorieid, it’s lonely and it hurts.” Mizz Dana

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Jun
05

The war on our soil

Last month it was announced the deaths of US personnel in Iraq had exceeded those of 9/11. At over 6,000 people that’s a staggering loss but it becomes like the Russian leader Stalin said “the death of one person is a tragedy, the death of 1 million is a statistic.

The same thing goes for the war being fought on the American streets. Just statistics. Here’s another since this site started we have been receiving and posting remembrance messages and the total deaths we have recorded has now reached 3,609.

Take at look at these names, Big Stan, kcrooked”L” a.k. “L” Kiada Bang Bang, Rail Road Gang, krazey-2uce, Tw87dy kcurd, bLAKCg, k.k,, o-dell a.k.a K.O and lil taron a.k.a 2uce-ron, Carlos aka “CHANGO”, chan, Papa ru, HOMICIDE A.K.A DWAYNE, CHAVARIO AKA RIO, Beto, E-Z/BK,NY, larry, Joshua aka “Silent”, fernando, “ATON” Anthony, dale ray, J-Fresh, Darrent.

Just some of the most recent remembrances. To us names on a screen, to their families a huge, huge loss, to their generation an RIP of unfulfilled potential and to the country statistics in an ongoing street war that doesn’t look like it’s going to stop anytime soon.

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May
27

Leaving a gang

This from Bro Mike

Let me be blunt; the solution for you is no different than for a woman who has been a drunk for all their lives, or for a man with a good job who has been snorting coke for years.

Call it SIN and QUIT it!

Sin is a missing of the mark set out by God.  Being in a gang doesn’t make you a winner; it makes you a SINNER.  The only solution is to quit it, walk away and stay away.

Quitting a gang is no different than quitting smoking, stealing, whoremongering, adultery or fornication.  You have to ask God for help; accept the help that he sends in the form of Jesus Christ, and keep on steppin AND DON’T LOOK BACK!

You remember the story of Lot’s Wife in the Bible?  It’s in the Old Testament in the Book of Genesis.  Lot’s Wife was turned INTO a pillar of salt because SHE WAS STUPID ENOUGH NOT TO LISTEN TO THE LORD AND LOOKED BACK ON THE SIN THAT SHE ENJOYED, INSTEAD OF HEEDING THE LORD AND LOOKING AHEAD, AWAY FROM THE SIN AND HER ‘PAST LIFE’.

That’s what it takes; that’s what we are about.

It takes courage to quit. Change is NEVER easy!  It takes courage to drop your flag.  It takes courage to change.  Progress of an inch a day is STILL progress.

Tell your eses that you’ve had it; you’re through and you quit because its time to do more with your life than being a mobile target for trouble.

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May
26

THE NIGHTSTICK, THE CROSS AND ELECTION YEAR TACTICS

By Bro Bor D and Bro Mike
Gangstyle.com

In Chicago, many still speak of the use of excessive force at the 1968 Democratic National Convention.  It was the cops and the Illinois National Guard vs. the demonstrators in the streets of the Windy City.  Back then, another Mayor Daley decided that the show of force was needed to keep the peace and protect the public good.

It took years for Chicago to live down the media pictures and public horror of what transpired in the streets of a modern, urban city under the guise of ‘law and order’.

Now, there are those who want to repeat the tragedy more than 40 years later.

We hear about a “war on gangs” from politicians and law enforcement all the time, city after city making the same noises to appease the public who fear gunfire and crime in their back yard. This approach not only does a disservice to those affected by gang activity as it promises results without delivering solutions; it also does a disservice to individual gang members who–under this proposal–would all be perceived the same way whether they are peripheral members or hard core bangers.

The problem is that the time is coming for gang members and society where this moves beyond words to possibly ill considered actions. The rumblings are already afoot with talk of the National Guard being deployed in Chicago once again, much like guard units across America were deployed during the sixties for ‘urban duty’ from Los Angeles toDetroit. Rather like Northern Ireland, the guard may be welcomed at first as the perception will be that they will restore peace. Visible gang activity will drop in the face of overwhelming force, at least for a few weeks. As time progresses in order to enforce the peace, the very people who welcomed the troops will then have their freedoms restricted in order for peace to be maintained.

Remember what the Bible says about ‘peace and safety’.

Road blocks, ID checks and curfew sweeps will become the order of the day, of course for the sake of public safety and security. Eventually, the public would get tired of the use of the guard, and a REAL set of problems may surface.  This will turn support into resentment…much like it did by the demonstrators on the receiving end of the police nightsticks in 1968.

Government, even within its own ranks, continues to flounder on keeping track of real and perceived gang activity.  In 2005, one government funded report came out and said that there were more than 800,000 gang members in the USA.  Resources were poured in.  However, another government report came out in 2009 saying that in spite of all the resources added, gang membership had swelled to more than 1 million in rural, suburban, and urban areas.  The Washington Times reported in its April 28, 2010 edition that TWO federally funded anti-gang programs established in the Justice Department (NGIC–the National Gang Intelligence Center & Gang TECC–the National Gang Targeting, Enforcement and Coordination Center) have NOT made a significant impact on the department’s anti gang efforts even though both programs are housed in the SAME building and within a stone’s throw of each other. Furthermore, they did not have JOINT database capability, because they chose
NOT to.

Scary stuff.

Sounds like another option must be explored.  An option many may not like to hear.  Using the Cross over the nightstick in fighting gang activity.

Many in government have forgotten that gang members do have families, siblings and, yes, even sweethearts.  Still more in government have forgotten how churches have transformed raw areas of crime in the past.  But, that is a problem to some.  Now the problem is that governments have grown ignorant in the way gangs are developing and turning inner cities–and other areas–into war zones.  It almost justifies–from the government–that a harsh response is coming.

The Cross would be far better than a nightstick.

Many government officials would rather not hear this truth.  After all, in a bad, deteriorating economy government needs a quick scapegoat to justify spending and expansion.  Enter today’s gangs.  They will go from being talked about as Public Enemy #1 to actually being understood in a way that would justify the use of excessive force. This will be bad news for those in gangs and also those in gang affected neighborhoods.

Here–in our view–is what the politicians use for justification of more suppression:

Gangs increase crime in the areas in which they operate : Check

Gangs are involved in intimidation: Check

Gangs are involved in illicit weapons trade: Check

Gangs are involved in drugs: Check

Gangs are involved in prostitution: Check

Gangs are involved in human trafficking/sex slavery: Check

Once those in authority join the above dots in a real, public way (through the deaths of the wrong people at the hands of gang activity) then action could be swift, forthcoming and brutal.  Once the ‘genie’ is out of the bottle; once something like the National Guard is tried and it reduces headlines and crime statistics in one city, rest assured that other cities might try this and it soon may become the nationwide approach.

How hard pressed are local police in these hard economic times?  Police layoffs in some cities have caused detectives to ‘only’ work ‘some’ murder cases and leave others to the side.  In other cities, police layoffs have forced uniform cops to stop dispatching squad cars to the scenes of fender-benders and other minor traffic accidents.

In this atmosphere, much as in 1968, some still believe–in spite of the history–that an aggressive ‘crackdown’ will work.  It would reassure those who don’t live near gangs…those taxpayers who can puff out their chests and proclaim “…not MY child…” that downtown ‘hears you’ and all will be perceived to be well.

However, the truth is that suppression doesn’t address the spiritual, economic and social factors that make gang life attractive.  Only the freedom for the spread of theGospel of Jesus Christ throughout these gang-infected areas will bring needed–and lasting change.

It’s the Cross that will eliminate the need for the policeman’s nightstick and the guardsman’s bayonet.  This is the true miracle that is needed, in these last days.  Every other means of gang suppression has failed–as we can see by the evidence.
This is the miracle that is needed.

Fortunately our God not afraid to get involved and get His hands dirty in the hood without a nightstick.  We here at Gangstyle.com have seen former gang members repent, turn their lives over to Christ, be saved, become disciples, transformed by the power of the Holy Spirit and willingly go back into hoods they once terrorized to bring spiritual change and true biblical healing by the power of Jesus Christ.

The Cross is stronger than the nightstick.  The Cross needs to replace the nightstick.  The Cross is where true victory over gang life lays.  Not in political ‘pipe dreams’ of excessive force and martial law, but in the power of Jesus Christ.

In closing we would ask those in authority NOT to buy into the use of martial law and excessive force for gang suppression.  Yes, use regular law enforcement methods…but make room to talk things over with the church.  For such a partnership with the Cross could help and move along economic development, empowerment and general encouragement.  No city will succeed without cooperation with her citizens.  Military checkpoints can’t do what an empowered citizenry can.

Like the old idiom goes “It’s an ill wind that does nobody any good.” It’s a breeze right now but the storm’s gathering force and we’ll all be caught up in it if we don’t learn from our own history.

In Jesus Name

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May
24

Down For Your Hood

I read a great piece from St Louis this week and props go out to State Representative Jamillah Nasheed and city alderman Antonio French for their innovation in asking current and former gang members to clean up the area near O’Fallon Park.

We often hear about gangs being down for their ‘hood and in this case it meant spending a week cleaning up the neighborhood. The only way to impact the gang situation is to to get gangs involved. As an incentive for the cleanup the area will get a new basketball court and some of the gang members may be able to pick up some construction work.

So are you don for your ‘hood? If so how are you showing it? Is it a better or worse place for your kids to grow up in because of you. The choice is yours.

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May
23

Gangs and Our Youth

Pull up a chair and site back as gang intervention expert Ron “Cook” Barret runs it down…

Waking up every morning for school used to be the same ol’ drag…motivate myself to get out of bed by rockin’ some beats on my cd player, splash some water on my face, brush my grill and bounce out the house. I always looked forward to the adventurous journey through the hood, filled with shortcuts thru alleys; backyard brushes with neighborhood dogs, a stop at the neighborhood bodega, the sounds of adults arguing and buses braking filled the air. I remember becoming bolder as the grades passed, 3rd, 4th, then 5th, 6th, …cursing along with my favorite songs, creating a “bop”…. my signature stroll that emphasized my attitude. The world was mine and growing up was a snap, middle school was right around the corner and that meant different teachers, more freedom, my own locker and most of all…..more girls. Middle school also meant an extra six blocks were added to my journey, six blocks farther than I ever traveled before, big deal….right?
The next school year started with me arguing with my mom about my school clothes. She bought me the same ol’ shirt and pant outfits I wore in 5th grade……I needed to step my game up and dress the way middle schooler’s were dressing. Oversized t’s of all colors, baggy pants, Roc-a-Wear, Phat Farm, G-Unit, everyone was sporting the latest fashions. I lost the argument as usual and on the first day of school, tried to hook up my outfit the best I could. I didn’t need much motivation to get up for the first day; anticipation of being in “middle school” was enough to keep me up half the night. My mom told me be careful and “smart”, as she always did, and to get right to school and “act like I know”. As I ran out the front door, I realized my best friend, whom I’ve always walked with to elementary school, was taking a bus to a private school and that left me solo for the first time. I put on my cd Walkman and popped in my cd and was off….
The first few blocks seemed like I was going back to elementary school except for the right turn on the “Ave.”, as it was called, and six more blocks to the monstrous building that housed me and 850 other students. The “Ave.”, was the main strip in our city and it contained the majority of the businesses, chicken shacks and more liquor stores than I could count. I walked in the mass of people who were rushing to go their trains, buses and jobs. I saw the school in the horizon and also started seeing other kids flowing onto the “Ave.” I wanted to stop by the closest bodega to school to load up on my “energizers”…….gum, chips, and skittles. I noticed a large group of students were hanging by a store called Manny’s and figured it was the spot. As I approached the store, I noticed the older kids were all wearing the clothes I TOLD my mom I should’ve bought…oversized jeans, size 7X t-shirts, fitted caps, everything!! I walked in and surveyed the store looking for the candy section. The store was filled with kids and was noisier than the store I was used to going to in elementary school. I spent my lunch money on my sugar fix and headed out the door. As I walked back onto the “Ave.”, a short pudgy kid who was wearing the same color t-shirts as the others he was with, bumped into me causing me to drop my bag of goods to the sidewalk, causing a roar of laughter from his friends. I instinctively bent over to retrieve my candy and figured it was just an accident and expected an “excuse me” from the boy. I straightened up and glanced in his direction, he said, “you got a problem?” and continued to stare at me. The rush of nervousness went straight down my spine and it was a feeling I wasn’t used to. I continued walking towards school and heard him and his friends making in fun of my clothes and laughing. I remember asking God to someday let me see that boy alone, without his friends, we’d see who would laugh then.
At school I was overwhelmed with the size of the school, the number of buses in front, everything!! I had no choice but to handle my biz and do what I gotta do. The first day went by like a flash…it seemed like it was over before it started! I thought…cool….this is gonna be a snap. I went home the same way I came to school and as I passed Manny’s, I noticed the pudgy boy and his friends were still there. I crossed to the other side of the street, avoiding any possibility of a confrontation. I noticed a girl from my homeroom was also walking on the same side and we smiled at each other nervously as we strode along side each other. She said “hi” to me and I returned the gesture feeling a sense of relief that I didn’t have to say something first. She said her name was Tameka and I introduced myself awkwardly, “I’m Vonnie”. She asked where I was going and I told her I live down the ‘Ave.” about 6 blocks away, coincidentally, she lived on the “Ave.”, right where I turn to head home. We talked about our previous schools and how our first day went, I told her the problem wasn’t school, it was the boys at the store next to school. She proceeded to laugh and said, ‘them Bloods….them boy’s is wack!!…..don’t sweat them.” I heard about Bloods and Crips and knew they were around my area but outside my school? They didn’t look like Bloods? What does a Blood look like? I laughed along with Tameka and continued home.
The next day I traveled the same route and hoped I would see Tameka on the way down the “Ave.”. As I turned into the sunshine beaming on the “Ave.”, I squinted into the distance looking towards school. I didn’t see Tameka and figured I’d catch up to her in homeroom. My next thought was my stop by the bodega and a run in with my pudgy friend. I was a block away when I saw the faint image of oversized pink t-shirts and then I saw my nemesis. I tried to act like I didn’t notice him and strolled into the store looking to purchase my goods…..first mission complete…..now out the door. I walked quickly out the door and one of the pink shirts spit in my direction, missing my pants by inches. I continued to walk when I felt the wetness of liquid drench my pant leg. I turned and saw an empty soda can lying next to me and heard the laughs from the boys in pink. Furious, I looked at the group and let my anger shine, reaching down at the can, I asked who threw it. A tall, lanky boy stepped to the front and removed a pink bandana out of his back pocket shouting, “You got beef with NSB?” Hearing this, the rest of the students who were in the area started to surround us, looking to see what was going on. I nervously looked around trying to spot a familiar face to come to my allegiance, to no avail. The boys approached me and again asked if I had beef with NSB, to which I responded, “no”. They got charged up by my meager response and fed off my vulnerability and nervousness and continued to create a scene. The feeling of helplessness and embarrassment was to overwhelming to put in words.
It didn’t take long for the word to spread around school about me being ‘punked” by NSB and any thought of a “reputation” like I had in elementary school was being flushed down the toilet. I always thought of myself as popular, well liked and all those things kids look for, now I’m being treated just the opposite. After school I walked home and saw Tameka walking with 3 of her friends. I wasn’t up to being ridiculed anymore so I figured I’d mind my business and walk home alone. Tameka shouted hi to me and I waved hello back at her. She ran across the street with her three friends and they surrounded me asking 10,000 questions about NSB. I tried to be as cool as I could and played it off as if it was nothing, just another walk in the park, no big deal. I though I had them fooled when Tameka commented on how she heard I was ‘shook” and didn’t even look them in the face. My machismo deflated like a tire and I couldn’t comment to defend myself. I tried to change the subject when Tameka’s friend, Shantell said NSB is scared oh her brothers Crip set TTP.

She said everyone knows about TTP and they run things. Run things? What does she mean? Shantell proceeded to describe how her brother has mad jewelry and a fat car with chrome rims and a DVD player in the car. Everybody in school always talks about those rims and platinum jewelry and being gangsta, you mean to tell me your brother is one of them? We walked down the “Ave.” and I was ready to turn towards home when I heard loud music and a car approached us. Shantell smiled and said, “that’s my brother RJ!” the window rolled down and an arm with a huge gold watch came out. The next thing I saw was big chain and pendant hanging around his neck, the latest sean john outfit, just like the rappers wear. He called Shantell over and I saw him give her a wad of money and tell her a list of things to do. When he rolled away, I asked her what he gave her and she showed us all the money! She must have had $500 in assorted bills!! It was the most money I ever saw and I asked her what she was gonna do with it. She laughed at me and said, “Go shopping stupid!” She was to give her mom $250 and the rest was hers to do what she pleases. Wow!
Everything I’m looking for……protection, power, money, belonging and respect…..Shantell’s brother has……now how do I get it?

The above was one of a million scenarios in the lives of kids across our countries that are looking for a sense of purpose and think that gangs are a solution. Vonnie is searching for many things, he’s scared, he wants acceptance and just wants to fit in. Children as young as 8 years old are now mimicking gang signs, gang dances and gang slang. Families must provide the 3 major components in life we all need; protection, belonging and respect. Gangs provide a false sense of the same values. The rise in “latch key” children and unsupervised youth that are searching for voids to be filled in their lives are feeding grounds for gangs. The lure of fast money, material things, family security, peer pressure, fear, boredom, there are many reasons that gangs are attractive and our society has to start working together to combat this epidemic.
Youth gangs now plague urban, suburban and rural areas across our country. The suggestion of having just “wannabe’s” is the wrong approach, a wannabe is a gonnabe.

Denial is still a very big factor in communities struggling with youth gangs and youth at risk of gang behavior. The availability of drugs and the lack of positive alternatives for youth are just a few factors in the growth of gangs. Schools play a major role in gang prevention through the implementation of ‘zero tolerance” on gang related identifiers such as hats, beads, bandanas, etc. The “strong” parts of our communities have to assist the “weak’ parts of our communities with programming and social intervention. Opportunities and structured programs must be available for our youth, especially in the vital hours between 4pm to 9pm, when most youth are out of school and more criminal activity takes place. Combating gangs is not a law enforcement problem, it’s a community problem…….with proper awareness programs, education, social intervention, job opportunities and continue law enforcement suppression, we can continue to save lives and create a stable environment for our children.

Peace.

Ron “Cook” Barrett
Capital Region NY Gang Prevention Coordinator
175 Central Ave.
Albany, NY 12206
518-434-5723 work
www.nysgangprevention.com
cookjule@covad.net

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