Posted by Paul Kennedy (not verified) on Sun, 11/08/2009 - 1:42pm
Good program about gangs in Yakima. I started an after school teen program in a low-income area of Spokane and ran it for 10 years. It was very successful. Things I learned: 1) Don't try to do too much, just keep the kids busy and safe. Don't repeata what they get in school already. 2) Hire military veterans as staff as they know how to handle themselves, have personal courage and discipline. 3) Use college students as volunteers. 4) Set a standard of behavior and stick to it, no exceptions. The kids will respond to it as long as it is applied fairly. 5) Treat each teen with respect and as a unique person. Compliment them on their talents so that they know that they are unique and special. 6) Don't try to solve the gang problem. Try to prevent kids from joining gangs. Keep the gang bangers and drug dealers and users out. Isolating them is the best you can do and the justice system will take care of the worst of them. They will wear you out and discourage your staff and volunteers. They will give your program a bad reputation if you allow them to hang around. Save the unaffiliated kids.
7)Don't wait for the parents to help as they have their own problems that most kids are trying to escape from. It's best not to ask the teenagers about their families. 8)A successful program can be simple if you keep it simple, keep discipline standard fair, keep kids safe, laugh with the kids a lot, and use the resources available like school gyms.
Paul Kennedy
Spokane, WA
Posted by Guest (not verified) on Thu, 10/29/2009 - 7:20pm
Thank you KCTV 9 for bringing this forum to Yakima. The turnout was very good. I hope that the citizens of Yakima Valley continue to confront this problem. We need to come together and put together a plan. There are a lot of grassroot programs around the valley. It would be awesome to see all of these programswork toward a common goal and to be on the same page. As a united community we are stronger. I hope to hear about meetings taking place concerning the gang violence issue so i can continue to be involved and discuss solutions.
Confronting Gang Violence: Q&A session
Comments
Posted by Paul Kennedy (not verified) on Sun, 11/08/2009 - 1:42pm
Good program about gangs in Yakima. I started an after school teen program in a low-income area of Spokane and ran it for 10 years. It was very successful. Things I learned: 1) Don't try to do too much, just keep the kids busy and safe. Don't repeata what they get in school already. 2) Hire military veterans as staff as they know how to handle themselves, have personal courage and discipline. 3) Use college students as volunteers. 4) Set a standard of behavior and stick to it, no exceptions. The kids will respond to it as long as it is applied fairly. 5) Treat each teen with respect and as a unique person. Compliment them on their talents so that they know that they are unique and special. 6) Don't try to solve the gang problem. Try to prevent kids from joining gangs. Keep the gang bangers and drug dealers and users out. Isolating them is the best you can do and the justice system will take care of the worst of them. They will wear you out and discourage your staff and volunteers. They will give your program a bad reputation if you allow them to hang around. Save the unaffiliated kids.
7)Don't wait for the parents to help as they have their own problems that most kids are trying to escape from. It's best not to ask the teenagers about their families. 8)A successful program can be simple if you keep it simple, keep discipline standard fair, keep kids safe, laugh with the kids a lot, and use the resources available like school gyms.
Paul Kennedy
Spokane, WA
Posted by Guest (not verified) on Thu, 10/29/2009 - 7:20pm
Thank you KCTV 9 for bringing this forum to Yakima. The turnout was very good. I hope that the citizens of Yakima Valley continue to confront this problem. We need to come together and put together a plan. There are a lot of grassroot programs around the valley. It would be awesome to see all of these programswork toward a common goal and to be on the same page. As a united community we are stronger. I hope to hear about meetings taking place concerning the gang violence issue so i can continue to be involved and discuss solutions.
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