Steve in Toledo

Expert’s discussion about gang dangers turns dead serious
Steve Nawojczyk, a retired coroner, visits Toledo’s Jones Junior High to talk about juvenile violence and gangs.

By IGNAZIO MESSINA
BLADE STAFF WRITER

It was the usual chatter and good-natured horsing around in the auditorium at Jones Junior High School in Toledo yesterday until the presentation started.

Students first laughed at some of the things Steve Nawojczyk, a former coroner from Little Rock, told them about his work with gangs. But silence soon gripped the room when he began showing pictures of victims and videos of grieving relatives.

Mr. Nawojczyk was brought to the city by the Toledo Youth Commission to speak at Jones and Leverette junior highs yesterday and at East Toledo and Robinson junior highs today.

“It was a hard conclusion to reach in our community that there are just some people who you cannot reach,” Mr. Nawojczyk said. “But everyone in this room knows the difference between right and wrong.”

During his presentation, Mr. Nawojczyk asked how many of the students know someone injured by violence, someone who’s been incarcerated, or someone in a gang.

Dozens of students raised their hands for each question.

“Nothing surprises me anymore,” he said. “I ask that question often for the adults in the room, so they can see just how many kids there are in those situations.”

After retiring as the coroner in Pulaski County, Arkansas, Mr. Nawojczyk began a research and lecture tour dealing with juvenile violence and gangs. His work with gangs was featured in HBO’s America Undercover documentary “Gang War: Bangin’ in Little Rock.”

Dwayne Morehead, Jr., co-manager of the Toledo youth commission, said the sessions wouldn’t reach every child, but the presentation was powerful enough to reach many in the age group most vulnerable to peer pressure to join gangs.

“This is more intervention and prevention,” Mr. Morehead said. “These kids are at the age now when they will decide to join gangs or not.”

Steven Riddle, principal at Leverette, said some of his students were able to relate to stories of gang violence.

“We do have various gang activities where we see the markings,” he said. “Inside, we can control what goes on in these four walls, but it’s what happens in the neighborhoods.”