Just under forty people attended a peer based gang awareness parent-child seminar hosted by Operation No Gangs at VFW Gadsden Memorial Post 4384 in Anthony, NM on Thursday evening at 6:30. Anthony townspeople, community activists from Chaparral, NM and a teacher from Canutillo Middle School were among those present. Four teens and the director of Operation No Gangs showed the participants actual gang attire, gang accessories, pictures of various tattoos and graffiti - explaining their relationship to the Hispanic youth gang culture.

Director and Intervention/Prevention Specialist Gallardo also outlined the types of drugs and activities preferred by youth gang members in the Southern New Mexico and El Paso, Texas region. Gallardo showed the attendees the types of paraphernalia that kids might have in their possession which might indicate drug use.

The four teen participants who are former gang members spoke candidly to parents about how their decision to get involved in the gang lifestyle had ruinous consequences that continue today, despite their best efforts to keep away from gang friends and venues. Two of the teens, one aged 14 and the other 16, related to the parents and teens in attendance that they were nearly killed in gang brawls. The older boy told parents that he highly regrets having gotten involved, as his relationship with his parents has been negatively affected and that he continues to fear walking the streets and going to public places because of the possibility of gang conflict. The young man added that he suffers from memory problems which began when he was struck on the head by a heavy object in a surprise gang attack that occurred in a fast-food restaurant parking lot one Friday evening.

The two oldest of the four teens commented to attendees that the "gangster mentality" is very much a part of their way of life, despite their having disconnected from gang members and activities. They spoke about many evenings involving drug use, beer runs, graffiti sprees and just looking for trouble. These two teens completed high school this past May, with the support of many caring individuals who "pushed them through" and "believed in" them. These two stressed that a change of dress style is necessary in order for others to see a change and for the changing gangster to instill in himself that he is a new person.

All of the presenters emphasized to parents that gang life is always a choice for the teen gangster who gets involved. That choice begins with how a young man or woman chooses to dress, act, talk and the kinds of people he hangs out and the activities he chooses to engage in. The parent of these gangsters "enable" the gangster to carry out his lifestyle.

Gallardo provided literature to the attendees on how to prevent child gang affiliation. He urged Hispanic parents to consider their parenting practices, to closely monitor their child's actvities and friends, and to know the whereabouts of their children at all times.

Gallardo received several requests for a repeat of the presentation exclusively in the Spanish language. The group is seeking to hold a repeat performance the week of 8/6, time and location to be announced. Gallardo has asked Dona Ana County Deputies Robert Hernandez and John Day and Gadsden ISD Chief of Security Joe Mendez to participate in the upcoming session. Fliers announcing the event will be distributed in the community prior to the event and will be posted on this website.

If your Anthony community group, school, church or business is interested in a similar presentation, contact Operation No Gangs at (915) 471-9139. A cash honorarium of $50 is requested but not required, to defray transportation expenses and meals for the teen participants. Operation No Gangs is a non-profit ministerial effort operated by ARYBA TX-NM with the aim of helping communities to develop community-based strategies to combat gang affiliation issues in their communities vis-a-vis prevention, intervention, education, jail diversion and advocacy custom-tailored wrap-around effort on a case-by-case individual basis.

Rob Gallardo
 

Operation No Gangs	Prevention Education Jail Diversion Advocacy
(505) 346-0679	Anthony, NM El Paso, Texas Cd. Juarez, Chih

 

Interested in a presentation to your business, church, civic group or classroom? List of  Gang/Drug Awareness Presentation topics