Monday August 3^rd, 2009

From the Streets to the Stage

Theatre Group Works with Cops, Gang Members

Organizers of a new theatre program are hoping that youth gang members will ultimately choose the stage rather than the streets.

Musicians, dance and theatre artists, involved with the four–week program From Streets to the Stage will work with up to 20 students to create a theatrical production on gang issues. Read More

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Anti–Gang Program Expanding to North Richmond

Buoyed by the success of a program to reduce gang membership and violence in South Richmond, authorities want to duplicate it north of the James River.

The Gang Reduction and Intervention Program, or GRIP, was launched in South Richmond in 2004 with a federal grant. Read More

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Urban Public Schools: Gang Prevention and Intervention Strategies

A compelling presentation by Khaldun Everage of the Chicago Public Schools system, about the reality of gangs in Chicago and other urban public schools, and the impact of music, video games and the internet on gang involvement.

Presentation Available Here

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Milwaukee's Transition High

As part of the U.S. Department of Labor's School–based Initiative program for youthful ex–offenders, and in conjunction with its Gates Foundation–supported "small learning environment" program, Milwaukee Public Schools has established a highly successful e–learning high school that emphasizes credit recovery and high school progress with 70 (so far) former youthful offenders. The program adds part–time and summer employment to an experience that includes academic coaching, community–based gang prevention to assure that newly–released (and newly enrolled in school) youth do not re–engage in gang activity. Recidivism in the year and a half the program has been operating is near zero, and academic progress has been remarkable, averaging more than a two year gain for youth enrolled for less than a year.

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