Culture Captain Maria Garcia is working hard on the Gang Violence poster
The next “Big team” may be a little more exciting because it’s not Mr. Impastato doing his stand-up comedy routine. Instead, Culture Captains are working on a presentation about Gang Violence. They will perform it for the whole school on December 8. Culture Captain Maria Garcia says, “My goal is to turn on just one light bulb. As long as we get it through one persons head, we accomplished something.” They are also hanging signs and a poster on the walls.
According to FASTEN.com, there are approximately one-million gang members in America, and about forty percent are juveniles. So it’s not a surprise if you know any gang members. Being part of a gang is a high-risk situation. Every part of it, the initiation, actually being in the gang, and leaving the gang, which doesn’t happen often, is dangerous.
High school is one big mixing pot. You have your cliché cliques of jocks, nerds, hipsters, etc. There’s a chance that two or more different gangs may be placed in the same school, which causes a lot of drama. Unfortunatley last year, CPS lost over 30 students to gang violence. Some of these students were not even gang involved. These rates have been raising incredibly these past three years.
Reality check: This happens in suburban schools too, not just Chicago public schools.
Mr. Cortes stated that, “Even if we don’t have gang members at Vanguard, I hope this will bring awareness. Maybe students and staff will be more educated and keep out of trouble. We will inform them of the risky neighborhoods, gang colors and clothing, and so on.”
“In this economy people have more of a reason to join a gang,” says Police Liason Steve Hudgens. He went on to say, “with lack of money, citizens may find it easy to join a gang. It looks like an easy way out, and an easy way to get money.”
According to Highbeam Research, in 2004, deans of schools under District 214 were noticing more gang-like behavior in some of their students. That same year, the district passed a new code saying if a student seems to be gang affiliated, they will be watched under suspicion by the deans and security. All schools in the district have strict rules and consequences against gangs and gang violence.
Hersey’s code of conduct states, “The visibility of gang and ‘gang like’ activities/behavior cause a substantial disruption and/or material interference to the educational process as well as school activities of District 214.” It goes on to explain what passes as gang affiliation. The code of conduct states the consequences as, “a student violating the aforementioned procedures will be required to attend a parent conference with the Dean of Students and/or other administrator.
The school resource officer may be involved if necessary. Action will be determined based upon the severity of the current and previous offense(s). These consequences/interventions shall include:
· Formal warning
· Referral to outside community agencies
· Suspension
· 45 day alternative placement (for special education students)
· Expulsion
· Arrest for criminal offense”
Even with all these rules, the violence goes on. Last school year there were thirty-seven deaths and 290 shootings in Chicago Public Schools. The statistics are rising every year. Culture Captain Vanessa Cardona says, “We are trying to raise awareness of gang violence by making posters and videos. It affects our community and loved ones.”
You can also help. School should be a safe haven for students, not a fearful place. If you are personally in a gang, you can get out of it.
A former gang member told me, “Being in a gang changed my life, and it still does. Not every body knows that I’m out of it. It will follow me for the rest of my life.” The student also stated “I constantly have to be looking over my shoulder.”
From interviewing this former gang member, I got a feel of the horror of being in a gang. He told me stories, reasons, and consequences of his actions.
Don’t fret, there are so many people willing to help. If you have any concerns or information, please contact a teacher, parent, or adult. Here, at Vanguard, the staff are your friends, not enemies. Don’t hesitate to talk to them.
Staff member Ms. McCann is very intrigued by gangs. She moved here from Colorado, and had never witnessed such things. She stated that, “I think kids lose sight of what’s really important. I try to build relationships with students and help them.” She is a great candidate if you need some one to talk to!
“Once a person is actually in the gang, it is much harder to get out, but not impossible. They can talk to their school counselors, or discreetly talk to the police,” says Officer Sjodin.
There is hope!
Some books related to this topic are Street Pharm, Gangs and their Tattoos, and Street Wars.
For more information and ideas, please visit these websites!
Story by Annemarie Schaefer
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