Show I Expert says we can ease gang trouble Lafaye House Contributor ContributorS Director of Diversity S and Equal Opportunity Carlos Jimenez said most gang members are trying to fill a a basic human need to feel im im- im- im Jimenez ez who does volunteer volunteer volunteer volun volun- teer work with gangs said if gang leaders can be taught that violence is not the answer to lifes life's problems they could influence other members to find more positive solutions Gang leaders need to be motivated to make better choices Jimenez said He said that most are from dysfunctional dysfunctional dysfunctional families and they see seethe seethe seethe the future as bleak no better than the past If they can be convinced that lives change the future can be better than the past They can be a catalyst for change in neighborhoods neighborhoods neighborhoods neigh neigh- he said Gang members feel they belong have protection and an identity with a gang he said According to Jimenez researchers researchers researchers re re- re- re searchers have missed important important important tant data about gangs Most are from stricken poverty-stricken homes with low education language and culture differences ces and are unemployed or or r underemployed Wi With th gangs emerging in Utah Jimenez said responsible parties that can help with this problem are p parents rents society social services schools and law enforcement Jimenez said when young people start having re gang problems they should receive counseling along with thier families Youngsters who join a gang and act out frustrations frustrations frustrations in a violent manner are experiencing pressures in their lives that they do not know how to deal with Jimenez suggested that the could help by going to different schools researching researching researching re re- re- re searching which ones ones have gang problems and then adopting one of them The students could develop programs that provide skills tutoring special projects and many other activities The liThe age group that would benefit most from these programs are the elementary grades third fourth and fifth The older students are harder to work with because they are harder to influence The community could get more involved with the Park and Recreation programs the school system and the education education education tion of alcohol and drug abuse he said Parents can start by in influencing influencing influencing in- in and encouraging their children in positive ways This will help build self- self esteem and self The children wont won't need a gang to tomake make them feel important important important im im- im- im he concluded |