NT help me gain insight to the south and west side of Chicago.

[RickBlast]

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I will be moving to Chicago next fall in pursuit of finding employment working with gang members. I really enjoy the various discussions we have pertaining to the communities of the south and west side, and thought this could be a great opportunity to connect with individuals who have knowledge in this field.

Most of my knowledge on the topic relates to my independent study I conducted on the history of Los Angeles based black and Hispanic gangs. I had the amazing opportunity to travel to the most notorious barrios and ghettos of LA. I am also working with a professor here at Yale with the goal of creating a website that tracks gang beefs via social media.

So as the title says I am in need of your assistance. Any insight to people or organizations that work in these communities would be greatly appreciated. Even your own personal stories, experiences, and/or advice would be valuable. In addition to my own research I just thought it would be beneficial to learn from people close to the situation.​ 

I am unsure if NT is the correct platform for this, but I am looking to grow my network, and thought NT would be a great place to start.

EndFragment

 

[andretti]

Strap up
Be safe

Don't **** up


Bruh don't do that the hells wrong with you?

 

[rook]

RIP

 

[nazdrowie]

check out org that the doc the interrupters follows...*called Cure Violence/CeaseFire

 

 

[jbc908]

It's just like any hood. There are great blocks while some side streets are death, you gonna be ite if you don't say nothing stupid and listen to any genre but rap.

 

[jjs07]

Look into some non-profits.

 

[yeah]

Don't think because of your experience in LA that you are any more apt to deal with the streets of Chicago more so than any other cat out there. Chicago gangs are an entirely different breed. Most places, you gotta mess up somehow (wrong color, disrespect a member, etc) to feel the wrath of the streets. Chicago? You can literally lose your life just cause. The mentality is shoot first, no need to ask questions.

There is also another major difference between Chicago gangs and gangs elsewhere. One of the biggest reasons for the widespread violence and fragmented sets is the lack of structure. All of the would be gang leaders are in jail or dead. Youngins, and I'm talking middle to high school, are out here serving AND putting in work. They don't give AF about your research, and will not hesitate to take advantage.

Be safe out there dawg. I only know what my friends and family tell me, and I know how the media can make things out to be worse than they are, but Normal Blvd, West Humboldt Park, etc.. Are places you DO NOT want to be in without people around you.

If you're serious, get in contact with Cure Violence out of Chicago. http://cureviolence.org -- they're the same people who made "The Interrupters" possible and they are probably your only halfway safe option of getting involved coming from the outside.