Going Beyond the Myths to Address a Critical Problem
Introduction
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Felipe gathered with his friends on an embankment in South Central Los Angeles and took aim at the unmarked police car. He heaved a rock that landed square on the cruiser, leaving a solid dent. As the angry police officers gave chase, Felipe scampered out of the way, eventually running to a dilapidated shack where his brother and other members of the Crips gang hung out. Felipe quickly climbed a tree to escape the police and eyed them nervously as they spoke to his brother and another gang leader. At that moment, Felipe was a scared, baby-faced kid who was in over his head. For now, one of the gang leaders and his brother admonished Felipe to stay clear of the police and the gang. Felipe, who looked to be around 12 or so, was too young to be mixed up in the deadly world of the ongoing killing between the Bloods and Crips. But by the end of the movie in which this story played out, Felipe had joined the gang, drawn in by the lure of excitement, angry about yet another attack on the Crips by the Bloods and perhaps hoping to be like his big brother. |
One of the final scenes of the 1988 movie "Colors" shows Felipe being led away by police after engaging in a murderous firefight with his fellow gang members against the Bloods. While "Colors" portrays one of the more extreme worlds of gang violence, it also shows how some adolescents can stand in a halfway world of being drawn into the excitement of gang life and being still young enough to have a chance of escaping that world. Because youth like Felipe are still in school -- or are supposed to be attending -- Coordinators have a chance to intervene in their lives before they join a gang. But before Coordinators can take action, it is important to understand the complicated world of youth gangs -- one that can bear little resemblance to the stereotypes often portrayed in the media and in movies.
This event is designed to help you understand the nature of youth gangs and how to prevent and address gang-related problems in your schools and communities. It will run for two weeks, from Monday, September 20 through Friday, October 1. During the first week, National Center staff will facilitate the on-line discussion among event participants on a regular basis. This means that staff will monitor and contribute to the discussion several times each day. The second week is primarily intended for participants to continue their exploration of event resources as well as any discussions with fellow Coordinators that began the week before; Center staff will monitor the event during the second week.
During this event, you will have the opportunity to do the following:
Learn about the nature and evolution of youth gangs in the United States
Review methods for assessing youth gang problems in schools and communities
Examine a comprehensive set of strategies for preventing and addressing gang-related problems
Explore additional resources that can further inform your gang prevention and intervention efforts
You are ready to begin this event if you have done the following:
Received confirmation of your registration
Visited the Center's Orientation to On-Line Events Web site
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Special Annoucement: National Prevention Conference on Truancy The Office of Juvenile Justice and Delinquency Prevention (OJJDP) and the U.S. Department of Education's Office of Safe and Drug-Free Schools will host a national truancy prevention conference on December 6-8, 2004, in Washington, DC. The conference, "Partnering To Prevent Truancy: A National Priority," will highlight promising and effective school-, community-, and court-based programs that rely on interagency cooperation to prevent truancy in urban, rural, suburban, and tribal communities. Participants will include juvenile justice practitioners, educators and other school personnel, judges, law enforcement officers, researchers, social services providers, health professionals, local and state policymakers, community and business leaders, and representatives from faith-based organizations and national and local youth service agencies. Attendees will learn practical approaches to reduce truancy in their schools and communities. Call for Presenters If you are interested in being a presenter at the Partnering To Prevent Truancy conference, go to the OJJDP Web site (http://ojjdp.ncjrs.org/) for more information and instructions for submitting proposals. Submissions are due no later than September 27, 2004. |
Click here to begin this event. |
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