Gang involvement is a reality and a way of life for many communities across the nation. One goal of Boys & Girls Clubs is to lead young people away from gang behavior on the street and into positive Club activities through proactive gang intervention efforts.

To further this goal, Boys & Girls Clubs of America recently hosted a national forum in Atlanta on youth violence, focusing on violence committed by and against youth, with a special focus on gang issues and efforts to protect young people from gangs. Highlights from the event included:

• Dr. James Alan Fox, noted criminologist and professor at Northeastern University, called on the media to stop the glamorization of gangs in movies and music. He also called for more efforts to fund education and combat the root causes of gang involvement.
• Yvonne Pointer (pictured), a social activist who began to speak out after losing her daughter to violence, called for stronger communities and more resources for young adults.
• Dr. Dana Peterson, assistant professor of criminal justice at the University of Albany who has studied gangs extensively, said gang affiliation can't be stereotyped and talked about reasons why females join gangs.