The nature of violence in America is a part of history that has unfortunately given our country a negative image in this day and age. In our society gangs have developed due to social injustices not only through the injustice of the economy but also justice as a whole. Most young people living in societies affected by socioeconomic problems are disconnected from traditional forms of social and interpersonal support systems, such as family and school, and are at greater risk of joining a gang. It is not unusual for a teenager who is interested in joining a gang to have a relative who is currently involved in a gang or has been in the past. Some gangs appeal to a teenager's desire for protection, recognition, or social status who thinks he can't make money elsewhere. When a teenager first joins a gang, the group is likely to meet his or her social needs. However, they may also be encouraged to become more antisocial and have antisocial mannerisms, beliefs, and attitudes that benefit the group so that they can remain in the gang and receive perceived benefits. The conflict I believe I am at the center of in the creation of gangs begins with the location, lifestyle, crime rate, race, and economic situation of this particular ethno-cultural community. The factors and reasons why an individual joins a gang may be due to high levels of poverty, peer pressure, boredom and even desperation in their living situation. Gang violence is a problem in every major city in the United States, and the number of members is on the rise. In America, the geographic location and demographic factors of a community, in this particular case an ethno-cultural community, are crucial because they determine the type of education that constitutes our core identity. The position of neighbor...middle of the paper...involves teaching a variety of skills, as well as offering mentorship and counseling for at-risk youth. Unfortunately, what little evaluation has been done has found this program to have only limited benefits. However, with greater awareness, creativity, community involvement, and more programs like Harlem Children's Zone, we could still reduce the serious damage that criminal gangs have inflicted on our communities; one block at a time. Work Cited WebAmerican Academy of Child & Adolescent Psychiatry. “Children and Gangs” August 2011 https://www.aacap.org/aacap/Families_and_Youth/Facts_for_Families/Facts_for_Families_Pages/Children_and_Gangs_98.aspx “Psychology Today.” Müller, Robert. Poverty Broken Homes, Violence: The Making of a Gang Member, August 23, 2014 http://www.psychologytoday.com/blog/talking-about-trauma/201308/poverty-broken-homes-violence-the-making-gang- member