Gangs In Schools
Why Gangs Develop and Why Students Join Them
Gangs take root in schools for many reasons, but the primary attraction of gangs is their ability to respond to student needs that are not otherwise being met; they often provide youth with a sense of family and acceptance otherwise lacking in their lives. In addition, gangs may form among groups of recent immigrants as a way of maintaining a strong ethnic identity. Understanding how gangs meet these student needs prepares schools to better respond to them.
• First, youth experience a sense of alienation and powerlessness because of a lack of traditional support structures, such as family and school. This can lead to feelings of frustration and anger, and a desire to obtain support outside of traditional institutions.
• Second, gang membership gives youth a sense of belonging and becomes a major source of identity for its members. In turn, gang membership affords youth a sense of power and control, and gang activities become an outlet for their anger.
Third, the control of turf is essential to the well-being of the gang, which often will use force to control both its territory and members.
• Finally, recruitment of new members and expansion of territory are essential if a gang is to remain strong and powerful. Both "willing" and "unwilling" members are drawn into gangs to feed the need for more resources and gang members.
Taken together these four factors interact to produce gangs that become more powerful and ruthless as they work to maintain and expand their sway over territory and youth.
Gangs and School Response
Still, despite the significant influence that gangs have upon violence and crime in schools, it would be a great disservice to portray them as so potent that schools are powerless to respond. Indeed, the perception of gangs as omnipotent frequently leads schools either to react harshly with overly punitive and restrictive actions or to be so intimidated that they refrain from taking any action at all.
What is needed instead is a strategy that mobilizes school and community resources to offer viable alternatives to youth gang membership. To be successful, however, a school's strategy must be built upon the above-described sociopsy chological reasons for why gangs develop and attract youths; in particular, schools must find ways to address students' feelings of powerlessness and low self-esteem. A strategy that embodies an understanding of "gang psychology" increases the probability that gangs will be less able to attract new members and retain old members.
Effective Interactions for Combating School Gang Problems
The following eight interventions have each been shown to be effective on their own, but can also be the basis of a comprehensive school wide strategy:
• Target students vulnerable to gang recruitment for special assistance, particularly through the use of peer counselors and support groups. Mentoring, conflict resolution programs, and tutoring can be particularly effective.
Establish moral and ethical education, values clarification, and conflict resolution as important components of the school curriculum.
• Create an inviting school climate where every student feels valued.
• Educate all school staff, including support staff, about how gangs develop and how to respond to them.
Offer special programs for parents on gangs and how to deal with them as a parent. Present information in a culturally sensitive way, and in a variety of languages, to reflect the diversity of the community.
• Monitor youths who are not enrolled in school but "hang out" on or near school property. This can help school officials assess the existence of gangs in the neighborhood, and anticipate and prevent their formation in the school.
Offer educational programs for students about gangs, their destructiveness, and how to avoid being drawn into them, preferably in small groups where they can express their feelings comfortably.
• Provide regular opportunities for students individually and/or in small groups to discuss their experiences in school and make future plans that offer hope and personal rewards.
Though the above steps offer no magical solution for eliminating gangs, they offer valuable interventions that may make gangs appear less attractive and prepare individual students to more effectively resist gang pressure to join with them.
Youth Relations/Crime Prevention Unit Rocio Martinez/Youth Relations Associate
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SOME THOUGHTS ABOUT GANGS FROM A FRIEND
A GANGSTER DOING LIFE
For those of you thinking of joining a gang, here’s your payoff - either prison or death is what comes of it. If you think it won’t happen to you, “so did the 700,000 gang members who are in prison today. The joke’s on you!
Another thing, those same rival gang members that you gangbang against, when you come to prison, it’s over. Gangbanging is not allowed here by the inmates! Bring it in here, that’s the end for you! Game over! You’re dead. At this moment as I write this down, I’m celled up with one of my worst enemies. And guess what - me and him have more in common than me and one of my dogs on the street. Why couldn’t we know this out there? Because our ignorance and stupidity blinded us.
Gangbangin’ is out of style - played out! There’s better things to do out there - beaches, clubs, family! You really want to give that up? It ain’t worth it!
For those that are in, get out! Just find different things to do and better friends. If you cease to come around, they’ll forget about you. I tell you this because I was the president of a gang which consisted of 350 members. I rose the ranks faster than anyone else. I joined at 9 and at 16 I was president. At 17, I went to prison, got out at 19 and called it quits.
Ten years later I am still alive. I may be locked up again but this time it was self-defense and I have faith in God that he put me here for a reason. Three years into my time, I found out what it is. God put me here to help you, to lead you away from the wrong path, to help you understand that gangs are a waste of time, to be able to answer your questions, to let you know that somebody cares for you. And you can trust in me because I already lived what you’re barely starting. I know what it’s like to have questions but no one to ask to get answers. But it’s changed because now you have someone you can ask who can give you the answers you seek.
If I have to stay in here for the rest of my life just so I can help youth in need, so be it. I should have been dead a long time ago. I can’t undo the past, but I can help shape the future and make it possible for you to have a chance at a better life and, as God is my witness, I vow to do this till death takes me away. Even then my good deeds will go on. There will be someone like all of you out there to help others, except you won’t have to come to prison to help. You’ll have a head start at life.
So all you out there set your minds to success because we’re here to help you succeed. To all of you, I send my love and respect. When you’re feeling down, remember what I said, “Don’t let no one or nothing get you down.” Stay strong everyone!! Freedom is priceless! God is freedom”!
Jerry
California
HEART PROGRAM
Heart is a proactive student group mediation program utilizing the talents, skills and influence of elected and non elected student leaders.
HEART emphasizes the following:
• The promotion of positive human relations.
• The practice of “living violence free”.
• The utilization of conflict management.
If you need someone to talk to, someone who is willing to listen, or if you just want to make a new friend,write to me or call me.I'm always here for you.
Who I'd like to meet: INTRODUCTION:
The HEART program endeavors to help youth to commit to a process that encourages them to assume responsibility and accountability for the provision of a safe school campus.
Created in 1991, HEART involves students both traditional and non-traditional from various social groups on campus in a program that showcases their natural leadership set in a forum of dialogue.
Meeting every week, HEART groups undertake problems on campus that reflect ethnic, cultural, social, gender and origins and begin a dialogue of resolution to insure a peaceful school campus.
Adult sponsorship, from teachers, counselors, deans and administrative staff members, guide and facilitate student mediation groups every week.
HEART members are on stand-by in case a crisis arises on campus or in the community. When this occurs, members are called upon to intervene and make contact with parties that may be involved in conflict. Because natural leaders represent their respective social groups, their influence, involvement and input in conflict management is more likely to yield a resolution.
Students in the HEART program commit to devoting their energy toward sustaining a peaceful campus fit for the educational process.
HEART members have risen to the occasion when given the responsibility to make decisions and hold each other accountable for a safe and peaceful campus. They are motivated by a sense of responsibility, commitment and honor.
A HEART student mediation group cannot eliminate all conflict on a school campus. Not entirely. Unfortunately, conflict and street violence is a reality in our society and especially, among our young people. However, they can make a difference.
The HEART program is a unique model that allows adults and students, in partnership, to decrease conflict and swiftly resolve issues on campus.
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The kids at Drew need your help!!! Ms. Martinez, of Youth Relations had her last day this past Friday...I do NOT know what we will do without her. The district has had to make huge cuts as everyone knows, but we have got to figure out how to help raise money to keep her. Some of us will attend meetings at the school site to ask the councils to help make this happen. In the meantime, if any of the students want to get involved, please have them email me at jag4588@lausd.net or call me at 323 826 1786 in the Dean's Office. I have written letters on her behalf and so have many of Ms. Martinez' peers. Ms. Martinez has always stood by the students and now it is time for them to acknowledge her and to stand up for her!!! If the students at Locke, Fremont, Jordan, and all the Animo Charter School kids got together and started giving their stories about how Rocio Martinez helped them to achieve and to make positive changes!!!
Contact the LAUSD Boardmembers as they speak for our communities...Our board representative is Dr. Richard Vladovic
TO EVERYONE READING THIS: PLEASE COPY AND PASTE THIS EMAIL AS IT IS AN URGENT REQUEST TO HELP SAVE MS MARTINEZ' JOB
THIS IS THE EVENT THAT EVERYONE HAS BEEN WAITING FOR. CLUB REWIND'S 2ND YEAR ANNIVERSARY. REUNITING 3 OF THE HOTTEST CLUBS TO HIT SAGE LOUNGE. VEGAS FRIDAYS~ HALO ~ & CLUB REWIND!!! COME AND B PART OF THIS AWSOME EVENT!! FEATURING A LIVE PERFORMANCE BY "SR80" KROQ/SPANISH ROCK COVER BAND W/ GUEST VOCALIST ELI FROM "A BETTER TOMORROW". ! MAKE SURE TO GET HERE EARLY TO TAKE ADVATAGE OF THE $1 DRINK SPECIALS AND TO AVOID LINES. SEE YOU FRIDAY!!! 6511 GREENLEAF AVE. WHITTIER, CA TEXT YOUR GUEST LIST TO (714)287-5797 ADAM
Hi...Mz Martinez..It was So nice Meeting You Too!!! I Wish I would Have known it was You!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! A Million Thanks for yre Kind words..Hope There Will Be Many More Events in Future!!!
DONT U MEAN WE ARE KEEPING U ON DA STREETS LOL..BOUT DA PARTIES I DONT GOT 1 FOR 2 DAY BUT IM GANNA PARTY WIT MYFAMILY AT HOME LOL IF U NOE WAT I MEAN"CORONAS"
YOUR INVITED 2 THE FREE ALL NITE EVENT THAT EVERYONE IS TALKING ABOUT YOU CAN'T MISS IT DON'T JUST HEAR ABOUT IT BE PART OF TOMA FEST MAY 5TH @ SAGE LOUNGE UPTOWN WHITTIER 6511 GREENLEAF AVE 90601 INFO 714) 287-5797
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