2012 conventions 2012 election 2013 session arts arts and culture author ballot measures basketball bomb books boy scouts budget bullying business charlie hales children clackamas climate change coal college courts crime culture culture club democrats drugs economy education environment family film fluoride food gay rights guns handguns health health care health insurance high school history housing immigration internet kitzhaber law legislature lgbt literary arts living marijuana marriage media medicine mental health military minor parties mohamed mohamud movies music native americans news newspaper obama olympics oregon our town parenting pers photography police politcs politics port portland portland business journal president prevention public safety religion republicans rnc romney rural salem sam adams sandy hook schools science shooting sports suicide supreme court taxes technology terrorism theater third parties transportation union university of oregon washington wildfire women

Last summer I had the privelege of offering a poetry workshop for detained youths awaiting trial on measure 11 charges as part of a PSU senior project. To me, the most striking thing about the (mostly gang affiliated) kids being held at the Juvenile Justice Complex is their ordinariness, their youthful vulnerability, and their inherent promise as citizens. One of the most talented poets in the measure 11 unit explained a situation of little alternative to entering gangs - they perceive non-affiliation as more dangerous than joining a gang. Most importantly, there is no exit strategy for gang membership - no clear mechanism for reintegration into normal society short of relocating, a costly and unlikely option for poor youth of color. We need ex-gang youth empowered, funded and supported so that they may design gang recovery programs that actually work! Let youth help eachother, and don't focus on prevention only - these are capable young people in search of a legitimate place society!

posted 5 years, 2 months ago
view in context