In your responses, focus on how you think people receive the efforts of former gang members when they try to inspire people to leave gangs or never get into them in the first place.

Ironically, gang members have almost always wished they had never joined a gang. It is not difficult to ask why one would feel this way. But it is tragic that there wasn’t a person or a program that could have informed them of the risk, and/or a person or persons who could have informed them of what lay ahead. Metaphorically speaking, a heroin addict would have never used heroin had they had the opportunity to see the result; drug addicted, perhaps homeless; broken. Similarly, would a gang member subscribe to gang ideology and commit themselves to a life of crime and almost certain prison time, or worse, death, if they were able to see themselves the result. Perhaps not.

For these reasons, having an opportunity to sit with and learn from a former gang member who has the desire to help to perhaps “pay it forward,” would be worth a sum greater than money. After all, what is a life worth? For some, there is simply no hope. For some joining a gang is a supportive opportunity and not a criminal one. For some its not a matter of belonging but rather a matter of survival. What a person would do under circumstances where their very survival is at stake. What would you do? Gangs exist for survival and people who have lived through that life know better than anyone else what that means and can also provide one of the best perspectives to keep others from going down that path.

Before you continue, watch the following video:

Your parole has been granted and you are nearing your release date. As part of an intervention program, a speaker has been brought in to talk to inmates that will soon be released about their return to society and how they can stay out of trouble and help others.

Reflect on the story of the speaker in the video above. In your initial post, respond to the following:

What similarities do you see between their experience and your own?
What are some ways that you think you would be able to contribute to society after gang life?
What are the benefits or dangers of having reformed gang members attempt to prevent other people from joining gangs?
Do you feel that your persona would likely engage in this type of outreach? Why?
In your responses, focus on how you think people receive the efforts of former gang members when they try to inspire people to leave gangs or never get into them in the first place.

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