January 18, 2024
Some kids may be fascinated by the gang lifestyle and love the rush and adrenaline of breaking the law, according to Robert Ontiveros, former gang member and mentor that partners with Learn4Life.
Ontiveros is CEO of Community Wraparound, a nonprofit in San Diego that focuses on mentoring to keep teens out of gangs. Last year, Community Wraparound teamed up with Learn4Life whose schools are located mostly in lower income communities, often near gang territories.
Ontiveros launched a training program for the teachers and staff at Learn4Life to recognize the five phases of youth getting into gangs. They watch for obvious things like colors, symbols, clothing, hand symbols – and more subtle signs like withdrawal, being secretive, drug and alcohol use, unexplained injuries, and dramatic changes in personality and interests.
