Our Initiatives -Gang Prevention
Many people believe that gangs are a “city problem,” and one that is for places like Los Angeles, New York City and Miami. The truth is that there has been a significant increase in gangs in rural America, too. According to the U.S. Department of Justice, every city in the United States with at least a population of 250,000 people has gang activity. What’s more is that 86% of cities with at least 100,000 people report gang activity. These statistics speak to the misperception that gangs are a “city problem”.
In North Carolina, the N.C. Governor’s Crime Commission reports 1,446 gangs across the state with a total of 19,000 members. The average age of gang membership is 15 years old – children who are finishing up middle school or starting their first year of high school. The Governor’s Crime Commission and practitioners across the state indicate that the gang situation in North Carolina appears to be at a crossroads with a greater awareness of gangs in the state and an increased reporting of gang activity. Research tells us that by 2012, there could be more than 41,300 gang members in North Carolina. We need to make sure our communities are ready to prevent and intervene in our youth’s lives before the street becomes their future.
Prevention and intervention strategies for gang-involved youth are critical in ensuring the academic and social success of our youth. The best way to make sure children are staying off the street is to make sure they are working toward getting their high school diploma. At both the local and state level, Communities In Schools of North Carolina is working to eliminate youth gang involvement and provide communities with effective gang prevention and intervention strategies.
Research speaks to the need to increase community awareness and develop prevention strategies as early as elementary school. That’s why Communities In Schools of North Carolina has created “Join MY Gang,” an awareness campaign that promotes alternate activities to youth to divert them away from potential gang involvement. The campaign highlights after-school programs, mentoring and a focus on academics as necessary school and community-based strategies to keep youth in school and out of gangs.
To intervene with youth who currently are involved in gangs, Communities In Schools of North Carolina has drawn lessons from a Street Gang Outreach initiative piloted in both urban and rural counties. This initiative focuses on middle school grades and matches gang-involved youth with advocates who assist them in getting back on the path to success by building social competencies, teaching conflict management and strengthening problem-solving skills.
To learn more, please contact Danya Perry, Director of Program and Youth Development.
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