Preventing Students from Joining Gangs | Jose Segura | TEDxMontgomeryBlairHS

Summary

The speaker shares his journey from a tough upbringing in Washington DC to working at Blair High School. He discusses the importance of family and community in preventing gang involvement, emphasizing that the issue is not with gangs but with family dynamics. Through his work in gang intervention and prevention, he highlights the power of opportunity and building bridges, sharing stories of students who have turned their lives around through mentorship and support.

Takeaways

• 🏫 The speaker started his career at Blair High School, focusing on gang intervention and prevention work.
• 🌱 Growing up in Washington DC, the speaker was influenced by his street environment and his mother's resilience as an immigrant from El Salvador.
• 🎓 After serving in the Marine Corps and moving to South Carolina, he began mentoring middle school students, despite not having a clear plan.
• 🔄 The speaker was later let go from his job with the Washington Wizards due to Michael Jordan's return to basketball, leading him to a career in security and eventually gang intervention.
• 👥 At Blair High School, he connected with ESL teachers to create an indoor soccer program that brought together diverse student groups, fostering unity and understanding.
• 🔑 The speaker emphasizes that the issue is not with gangs but with family dynamics and the need for support and opportunities for young people.
• 🤝 He highlights the importance of building relationships and offering opportunities to youth, rather than telling them to leave their social circles.
• 💼 The speaker shares a story of a former gang member who, through an internship opportunity, became successful and is now managing federal contracts for a company.
• 🌉 He encourages the audience to create bridges and opportunities for young people, which can lead to significant positive change in their lives.
• 🙌 The speaker concludes by emphasizing the power of providing opportunities and building bridges, rather than focusing on the problems of gangs.

Q & A

What was the significance of the speaker's upbringing in Washington DC?

The speaker was raised in Washington DC Northwest until the age of 12. The streets played a significant role in his upbringing from the age of five to twelve, which shaped his early life experiences and understanding of the world.

What did the speaker's uncle's comment reveal about his past?

The speaker's uncle's comment about expecting him to be dead by now highlighted the dangerous environment he grew up in and the surprising fact that he survived despite the odds.

How did the speaker's experience in the Marine Corps influence his later work?

The speaker's experience in the Marine Corps planted the seed to give back to the community. After leaving the Corps, he moved to South Carolina and started a mentoring program in an underserved area.

What was the impact of the indoor soccer program at Blair High School?

The indoor soccer program at Blair High School brought together 125 students daily, including magnet and ISAW students, fostering unity and reducing segregation among different groups of students.

Why did the speaker emphasize the importance of relationships in his work?

The speaker emphasized the importance of relationships because building connections with young people, including those involved in gangs, allowed him to understand their backgrounds and provide them with the support and opportunities they needed.

What was the speaker's role when he first joined Blair High School?

When the speaker first joined Blair High School, he worked as a security assistant and was referred to as the 'gang coordinator' for the security team.

How does the speaker view the issue of gangs in Montgomery County?

The speaker believes that Montgomery County does not have a gang problem but rather a family issue. He suggests that the problem is not limited to any particular community but is a broader societal issue affecting families across different ethnicities.

What is the speaker's approach to addressing the 'family issue'?

The speaker's approach to addressing the family issue is to provide opportunities and build bridges. He encourages relationships between students from different backgrounds and provides opportunities for personal and professional growth.

Why does the speaker emphasize the importance of opportunities?

The speaker emphasizes the importance of opportunities because they can change the life trajectory of young people. He shares a story of a gang member who, through an internship, not only got a job but also had his college education paid for and is now a successful manager.

What is the speaker's message about the role of schools in addressing social issues?

The speaker's message is that schools should be places where students from different backgrounds can come together, learn from each other, and be given the opportunity to succeed. He suggests that schools can play a crucial role in bridging gaps and fostering a sense of community.