The devastating effect of poverty on America’s youth By Alysa, Dounia, Erina, and Etta GANG LEADER FOR A DAY

WHAT DO YOU KNOW??? 1.What is the poverty line? 2.What is the basic needs budget for a family of 4? 3.How many Americans live in poverty? Source: about-education-and-poverty-Americawww.dosomething.org/tipsandtools/11-facts- about-education-and-poverty-America

SUMMARY Sudhir Venkatesh- Graduate student at University of Chicago Interest: relationship between race and poverty Survey in Robert Taylor Homes

SUMMARY Black Kings J.T. Gang life

SUMMARY Reality sets in Politics The Power of Voting Mediation

SUMMARY Gang Leader for a Day

DISCUSSION QUESTION Do you feel that the community was right or wrong for involving themselves in gang politics?

SUMMARY Ms. Bailey, building leader Sudhir explores underground economy Loses trust amongst everyone

DISCUSSION QUESTION Have you volunteered/led an afterschool program in your school or community? Would you like to share your experience?

SUMMARY Gun shots Teaching BK students Good cop, bad cop Demolishing the Robert Taylor homes

VIDEO With the Chicago teachers’ strikes launching the conversation on education reform into the limelight, the Up w/ Chris Hayes panelists talk about the contributing factors to the flawed aspects of the American educational system that are affected by violence and poverty.

GANGS AND POVERTY -“Several risk factors have been identified that increase the likelihood that a teen will join a gang including the presence of gangs in the neighborhood, having gang members in the family already, histories of sexual or physical abuse, growing up in poverty, having access to weapons and drugs, and a lack of success in other areas of life, such as school.”drugs Source: about-trauma/201308/poverty-broken-homes-violence- the-making-gang-memberhttp:// about-trauma/201308/poverty-broken-homes-violence- the-making-gang-member

GANGS AND POVERTY A way of making money Many gang member need to provide for families Lack of resources, education, etc.

GANGS AND POVERTY Why do students join gangs? 1. Membership gives a sense of belonging 2. Membership provides structure 3. Control/Power Source: /burnett-gangs.pdf /burnett-gangs.pdf

GANGS AND EDUCATION What can schools do? -Find a way to build self-esteem and eliminate the powerless feeling -Establish moral education -Educate staff -Provide opportunities for students to discuss future plans -Offer educational programs about gangs and their destructiveness Source: trauma/201308/poverty-broken-homes-violence-the-making-gang-memberhttp:// trauma/201308/poverty-broken-homes-violence-the-making-gang-member

"Poverty is a bear. Its impact on students is both obvious and subtle. The effects of food scarcity, housing instability, and insufficient access to medical and dental care are clear. If a student is hungry, without a home, suffering from untreated ailments, or in need of glasses, it is difficult for him or her to focus on schoolwork. Poverty also brings an increased exposure to violence, which further shapes student behavior directly and indirectly in complicated and often counter-productive ways. Another characteristic of poverty is living under constant stress, which research is beginning to show has a wide range of negative cognitive, physical, emotional, and mental health effects. Finally, since in the US a large percentage of students who live in poverty come from single-parent households, there can be a range of sibling,family, and elder-care responsibilities thrust upon them that their more affluent peers do not,in general, experience. These additional familial responsibilities influence students’ success at school." - Dr. Robert Balfanz in 'Overcoming the Poverty Challenge'

DROPPING OUT How costly is the decision to drop out of high school? Consider a few figures about life without a diploma: 1. $20,241 The average income of a high school drop out % The poverty rate of those who drop out of high school Among dropouts between the ages of 16 and 24, incarceration rates were a whopping 63 times higher than among college graduates Source: of-high-school/

Parent- and family-based programs improve family relations. Social-development strategies teach children how to handle tough social situations. They learn how to resolve problems without using violence. Mentoring programs pair an adult with a young person. The adult serves as a positive role model and helps guide the young person’s behavior. Changes can be made to the physical and social environment. These changes address the social and economic causes of violence. In 2010, 4,828 young people ages 10 to 24 were victims of homicide—an average of 13 each day. Homicide is the 2nd leading cause of death for young people ages 15 to 24 years old. Among homicide victims 10 to 24 years old in 2010, 86% were male and 14% were female. Among homicide victims ages 10 to 24 years old in 2010, 82.8% were killed with a firearm. Over 707,000 young people aged 10 to 24 years had physical assault injuries treated in U.S. emergency departments in 2011—an average of 1,938 each day. Youth Violence Facts: How to Prevent:

BOYS AND GIRLS CLUBS/AFTER SCHOOL PROGRAMS Good Character and Citizenship Outcomes Higher levels of community service involvement Increased levels of integrity (knowing right from wrong) Decreased levels of aggression Academic Success Outcomes Decreased number of times skipping school Increased academic confidence Increased school effort Healthy Lifestyle Outcomes Increased levels of future connectedness (how much youth think about their future and how their current activities help them prepare for the future) Decreased numbers of negative peers as friends Lower likelihood of starting to carry a weapon, smoke cigarettes, drink alcohol, smoke marijuana and have sexual intercourse

HOW PEOPLE IN THE PROJECTS TAKE CARE OF EACH OTHER 1.Families helping families 2.The gang helping people 3.Ms. Bailey and the Housing Authority helping people 4.The Boys and Girls Club helping people 5.Tenant patrol helping people