By Steve Nawojczyk
Nationally recognized gang researcher
and educator

The Beat Goes On
By: Steve Nawojczyk
February 1999

"THE PLACE YOU'RE MOST LIKELY TO FIND A HELPING HAND IS AT THE END OF YOUR ARM".

This well known saying was on a plaque that my dear late mother kept next to her bed. She was a strong-willed, self-reliant and compassionate person who raised two boys as a single mother in the '60's before single mothering was cool. This saying was probably her daily inspiration, and although we never discussed it, she passed its message along to me through her actions in life.

This maxim is very relevant in today's environment of kids killing kids. It is a message which must be instilled in our youth. While the media paints an extremely negative portrait of young people today, the reality is that there are many more good youngsters than bad. More often than not, although a child may be associating with gangs or other groups of "bad" kids...he or she is doing just that, ASSOCIATING.

We must offer them other places to associate. Each community must take a caring attitude toward all of their children regardless of race or socioeconomic status. Time and time again it has been shown to me that most people are willing to help any person who WANTS TO HELP THEMSELVES. Citizens are tired of their resources being used for programs or individuals who don't , or won't, exhibit any tendencies toward self-help.

In another vein, because of the school shootings around the country, many states are leaning toward harsher punishment at younger ages. The trend in this country now is to treat kids as adults, however, the problem with this is that some kids are not being taught right from wrong at home.

Wait a minute, you say, kids should know it's wrong to shoot someone without their parents having to tell them it isn't right. They should, I agree, but consider this: several years ago, I interviewed a young man who had been expelled from school for carrying a weapon, a gun. When I asked him what he thought his mother was going to think about his predicament, he matter-of-factly told me, "My mom is the one who gave me the gun."

As it turns out, his mother had been raised in a housing project in Chicago where gunshots were commonplace...where parents had to put their kids to bed in the floor every night...where kids were used to living below window line trying to avoid getting caught in a crossfire. She taught her son how to use a gun because he had to walk through gang territory on his way to school. It was a self preservation crime...he did not intend to use it for other than defensive needs if necessary.

This story and others like it prompted the Arkansas Attorney General to design a program called, "SMART CHOICES, BETTER CHANCES", which takes the law to the 4th, 5th and 6th grade classrooms. In a concise and fast very fast-moving presentation, trained volunteers, with the aid of video, make it clear to students what the laws are that affect them, and, more importantly, what happens if the law is violated. Teacher feedback clearly indicates a change in attitude of students who participate.

If you want to beat gangs in a community, you must compete with those gangs. You must offer ALL youngsters the same kind of belonging and identity that they falsely believe gangs offer. Through my travels, I found that nearly every community that was successful in dealing with gangs and other forms of juvenile violence generally had two things in common: (1) the were practicing zero-tolerant firm and fair law enforcement and suppression techniques; and (2) they've implemented strong community based intervention and prevention programs.

While current statistical data we are being bombarded with shows an overall decline in crime around the country, we should not rest on our laurels. Mr. Lee Colwell, Director of the Arkansas Criminal Justice Institute and a highly respected former assistant director of the FBI, recently made the following observation to a newspaper in Arkansas:

"We talk with a terrible imprecision about crime statistics, especially in the big cities. Crime isn't down in these places. What's down is the rate of crime per one hundred thousand people. Crime is up in raw numbers in most places--which doesn't mean we haven't made strides, but I wish we would speak more clearly."

My studies indicate that the areas which seem to be cultivating youth gangs at a faster pace than others are the rural and suburban sections of our country. A recent study by Dr. C. Ronald Huff of Ohio State University reported there were more than 23,000 gangs around the country with over 665,000 gang members. And I've found that it isn't just the Crips, Bloods, People or Folk.

Imagine a small town in central Tennessee with a posse calling themselves the "Northside Redneck Whiteboys." They are just that--a bunch of self-described redneck kids who have adopted some gang characteristics. They have an initiation ritual and a ranking structure, but they have no connection to any of the "national" groups. I call these cliques, "Teenaged Mutant Gangsters". Do not be deceived. They are as dangerous as any "real" gangster I've ever encountered.

So, how do we fix this mess? I highly recommend adopting Utah Attorney General Jan Graham's ACTION plan because it works. The key to its success is motivating adults in a community to work together, regardless of their political or religious beliefs, and, regardless of the color of their skin or the size of their bank accounts. This, my friends, has been the most difficult obstacle for many communities to overcome. Many adults find it hard to set aside life long beliefs or practices to help kids, but, the tide is turning, and after each place I visit, I am encouraged.

Okay, here's General Graham's plan:

A-- After School Programs. Keep 'em busy. The Justice Department says more juvenile crimes occur during the "latchkey" hours than any other time. These programs are as varied as the communities in which they exist. Some programs are run by schools, some by churches and, of course, Boys and Girls Clubs, YMCAs and community centers are other examples of groups that offer after school programs.

The city of Tooele, Utah recently started a boxing program for the youth which has already had a marked effect on some of the "rougher" kids who participate. Although it seems contradictory, boxing and martial arts programs have proven to be most beneficial as intervention and prevention tools. Some of the hard-core gangs in Los Angeles are now resolving differences with boxing gloves rather than bullets.

C-- Community Oriented Policing. Cities and towns across the United States are creating exciting non-traditional roles for their police officers. Some are merely dusting off old concepts like the POLICE ATHLETIC LEAGUE. Others are creating completely new and exciting roles for themselves like operating a job search service for area residents out of the neighborhood police office.

Community centers in housing projects which house not only police offices but classrooms for residents are springing up all across the country. These combined sub-stations and community centers are an oasis of peace and harmony for many adults and children in what, many times, was formerly a barren and crime ridden location. The most successful illustration of this I've seen is the small town of Alma, Georgia which reduced its juvenile crime rate by a whopping 70% after starting a community center and Police Athletic League.

Another part of community policing is the practice of zero-tolerant, firm and fair enforcement. The police must keep control of our streets, making our homes safe.

T-- Teams of support groups for parents. Whether it be a support group for victims of crimes, or classes on mothering skills, it is very important for parents to network to stay abreast of what's happening in their children's lives.

In Cookeville, Tennessee, a young mother of two boys discovered they were involved in gang activities. She promptly formed a support group called, "Parent's Against Gangs". She took to the streets documenting the town's gang activities and reaching out to the youngsters. She organizes graffiti removal crews and teaches classes for parents on the dynamics of gangs and warning signs of gang involvement.

Mothers and their family members can be powerful motivators to help steer kids clear of gangs. Many gang members can be reached by making them think of their mothers or using their families as tools to reach them.

I-- In-school programs. In-school programs should be implemented such as strong peer mediation or peer conducted conflict mediation teams. Conflict mediation is making a tremendous impact on school violence at nearly every institution which offers it. Coupled with other programs like the previously mentioned Smart Choices, Better Chances project in Arkansas and my highly-acclaimed anti-violence assembly called, "Peace-Live It or REST in It", schools can make a huge dent in on and off campus violence.

Another group in Arkansas, LET OUR VIOLENCE END, or LOVE, utilizes the "whole community approach" in working with schools to reduce violence, suspensions and other negative actions in the school setting. LOVE creates support groups in the schools to train students and adult volunteers to recognize disruptive behaviors in problem children as well as to reach out to help each other. LOVE takes this process one step further by coordinating with local businesses and civic groups to establish corresponding support groups in the neighborhoods to help these troubled kids and their parents outside of the school environment.

O-- One on One activities. One-on-one activities like Big Brothers/Big Sisters and other mentoring programs should be available. For example, the African-American firefighters in Little Rock started their own mentoring program for kids in their fire districts, and I am convinced this is one of the reasons juvenile crime in Little Rock is now on the decline. Of course, many other groups also offer a mentoring aspect in their respective agencies, and enough cannot be said about his most fundamental need of youth. They must have positive adults in their lives.

N-- Neighborhood Watch Programs. These watch groups must understand that the police and government agencies do not have the manpower or resources to fight this battle alone. We must work together to creatively take up the slack. Unfortunately, many times these groups are formed only after a neighborhood or one of its residents have been the victim of or have been subjected to violent acts.

A successful neighborhood watch group in Oklahoma issues all members on patrol a most effective weapon--a video camera. They also have radio communication and cell phones, and crime has now moved from this neighborhood to another. Hopefully, wherever the bad guys decided to go will also have a similar watch group. Video cameras are to criminals what lights are to roaches--whenever they see the light, they scurry for cover. Any watch group must be coordinated through the local police agency.

So...there you have it. It is a simple plan, one that each and every town and city can begin. At times it can seem overwhelming, but with commitment, patience and tolerance, it can be done. These are our children, our hope for the future and they are worth whatever it takes.

And, don't think you don't have anything to offer. The small things matter most of all. Like another strong-willed, self-reliant and compassionate woman, Mother Theresa once said when asked how it felt when she did such great things:

"We can do no great things...only small things with great love."

Steve Nawojczyk
PEACE--Live It or REST in It...

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