my plan for the year Monica N - 01:32pm Oct 4, 2005 PST

Hey there students and faculty of Reconciliation. My name is Monica N and I am a junior here at Evergreen. I am originally from the Milwaukee area of Wisconsin and came here to study political economy. I’ve strayed a bit from that path lately to study education and sociology.
I am interested this quarter in studying gangs and marginalized youth from a sociological perspective. I am focusing this quarter on Hispanic populations, for they are currently the ethnic group with the largest percentage of gang participants. It will also allow me to compare my results from winter quarter when I study in Guayaquil, Ecuador with an Evergreen consortium program called The International Program for Service Learning. I will continue my research of gangs while working with at-risk and homeless teens. I am interested in practicing my Spanish this quarter with anyone who is interested. I look forward to hearing about the rest of your projects. Below are my response to the questions from the website.

What do I want to learn?

This year I would like to put my energy into studying the phenomenon of street gangs in the US and Ecuador. I have compiled a list of questions that I will use to guide me through my research.

1. What is the history of Hispanic gangs in US?
2. What is the history of street gangs throughout Latin America and in Ecuador?
3. What does being in a gang entail?
4. What needs does a gang fulfill for its members?
5. Why do youth turn to gangs? What are the social, political and economic causes of youth gangs?
6. What conflict or rift exists between the youth involved with gangs and society and its’ authorities?
7. What are the vast range of societal perceptions of and reactions to gangs and how were they formulated?
8. What are the repercussions or effects of gangs in a community?
9. What official policies have been set by the US and Ecuadorian governments in regards to gangs?
10. Should gang membership attempt to be prevented and if so how?
11. When have gangs and gang members been persuaded to move beyond violence and illegal activities in order to explore more peaceful option? Have there been effective models of empowering and redirecting gangs towards peace?
12. What current support systems exist for gang members in Ecuador and the U.S.? What are NGO’s doing to move towards reconciliation; a settlement, understanding, resolution, compromise, reunion, ceasefire, bringing together, appeasement, between these youth and their communities?
13. What alternatives exist for gang members?
14. What are positive outlets for gangs that could reconnect them with society? Arts- graffiti, music, poetry

How do I want to learn?
I want my research to be a combination of literature, media, personal reflection, and interviews. I believe this approach will give me a broad and thorough understanding of my topic. I would like to speak to a variety of individuals who come in contact with gang members. This may include social workers, educators, mediators, parents, police and citizens.
I like to thoughtfully engage myself in readings, lectures, and films, in order to develop deep and careful analysis. I have a great deal of intellectual curiosity and I like to learn through the formation of questions. I would like to try to avoid broad generalizations and nonspecific assertions by paying close attention to sources. I enjoy being an active member of seminars and try to listen carefully to what others have to say.
I would like to be active with a group of students who would like to practice Spanish. On Tuesday it seemed there was a significant group who was interested in doing so. I hope we can find a time that will suit each of our schedules soon.

What do I plan to do with what I learn?
After researching Latino’s participation in gangs I would like to use what I have learned while working with at risk youth in Ecuador. I have found an organization in Guayaquil called Ser Paz that I would like to work with. They have done a significant amount to empower young people to find alternatives to the pervasive violence that surrounds them. Mediation workshops and community development projects provide young people opportunities to participate in organizing for social justice.
I will also use the knowledge I have gained to help me develop questions to ask individuals about their perception of street gangs. I will compile these interview to create either a research paper, documentary or a website to spread awareness of the needs of Hispanic youth that have been marginalized. I aim to raise consciousness on the challenges that young people face in attempting to define themselves and form communities that will provide them safety.

What difference will it make?
The knowledge and experience I gain from studying gangs and at-risk youth will help me have a better understanding of the socio economic conditions that surrounded me while I was growing up. I believe it will serve as a source of empowerment and a test of my current desire to work with at risk youth.
I believe my research of alternatives being created by caring citizens will help me find hope. I aim to join these people, and try to make connections with the young adults that I work with in Ecuador. I hope to provide them support free of judgment. I hope this experience and knowledge can make me more compassionate and understanding. From this knowledge and experience I will learn tools for providing social aid for young people who are deeply entrenched in lives of violence.
I believe the work I do will ultimately benefit me and the youth that I come into contact with. I also would love for the work I do to affect the community that I grew up in, by sharing the results of my research with educators and other members of my community.
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