The nature of violence in America is part of the history that, unfortunately, today has given a negative image to our country. In our society, gangs have grown due to social injustices, not only from economic injustice but also from justice as a whole. The majority of young people living in societies affected by socio-economic unrest 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 uncommon for a teenager interested in joining a gang to have a parent who is currently involved in a gang or has been involved in a gang in the past. Some gangs appeal to a teenager's desire for protection, recognition or social status that they believe they cannot obtain elsewhere. When a teenager first joins a gang, the group is likely to satisfy his or her social needs. However, they may also be encouraged to become more antisocial and adopt antisocial mannerisms, beliefs, and attitudes for the benefit of the group so that they can remain in the gang and receive the perceived benefits. The conflict in which I believe to be at the heart of the creation of gangs begins with the location, lifestyle, crime rate, race and economic situation of this certain ethnocultural community. The factors and causes that lead an individual to join a gang can be due to high levels of poverty, peer pressure, boredom, and even despair over their life situation. Gang violence is a problem in every major city in the United States, and membership numbers are increasing. In the United States, the geographic location and demographic factors of a community, in this particular case an ethnocultural community, are crucial because they shape the type of education. which constitutes our central identity. Neighbor location...... middle of paper ...... about teaching a variety of skills, as well as providing mentoring and counseling to at-risk youth. Unfortunately, what little evaluation has been done has found this program to be of limited benefit. Yet, through increased awareness, creativity, community engagement, and more programs like the Harlem Children's Zone, we can further reduce the serious damage gangs have inflicted on our communities; one block at a time.Work CitedWebAmerican Academy of Child and 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.” Muller, Robert. Poverty Broken Homes, Violence: The Making of a Gang Member, August 23, 2014http://www.psychologytoday.com/blog/talking-about-trauma/201308/poverty-broken-homes-violence-the-making-gang-member