Teens Against Gang Violence

CONTACT:

2 Moody St.
Dorchester, MA 02124
617-365-0637

Ulric Johnson, Founder

DESCRIPTION:

Roxbury, Dorchester and Mattapan have some of the highest concentrations of at-risk youth anywhere in the state. Teens Against Gang Violence (TAGV) was founded in 1990 by Dr. Ulric Johnson, then Director of Boston's Department of Health and Hospital Gang/Drug Prevention Program. He saw the need for a "youth-based" program in which teens themselves would be the core of the solution to gang violence. The basic idea is that whereas peer pressure often convinces young people to do wrong, it can also be used to the opposite effect if strong-willed students can be effectively trained as role models for non-violence among their peers. Members are supported in finding after-school jobs, and trained to develop skills in leadership, informal public speaking, and peer counseling. Their grades go up, and their self-esteem kicks-in. TAGV focuses on teens who do not self-select for leadership, and who can readily be swayed toward self- and socially-destructive behavior. This "middle" group, in TAGV's experience, comprises the vast majority of teens everywhere. The relatively few TAGV members reach-out into their peer communities, with a highmultiplier effect. Your donation will increase the multiplier.

(1998: HUMAN SERVICES: Children and Youth: General)