Jade Park North Block Watch

Think Youth Violence Isn't Your Problem?

Dec 22, 2007

Think Again?…It's easy to dismiss youth violence as a minor problem or as something that does not affect you. But before labeling youth violence as an unbeatable social ill that impacts only a fraction of the population, consider these myths and facts.

Myth: Youth violence is the work of a small group, most likely school dropouts.

Fact: People who work with violent youth know that it cuts through all economic, educational, ethnic and social borders. Nearly 72 percent of juveniles referred to Maricopa County Juvenile Court Center are attending school. The ethnic breakdown for referrals of youth ages 8-17 are: 53 percent Anglo; 33.6 percent Hispanic; 9.3 percent African-American; 2.4 percent Native American; 1.6 percent Asian-American; and 0.1 percent other.


Myth: Violence is a problem, but it doesn't affect my life.

Fact: Violence impacts us all. An Arizona Republic/Channel 10 News Poll of Arizona registered voters revealed 37 percent of us had changed our daily routines to reduce our risk of becoming a crime victim. Violence increases the taxes we pay to support the over-burdened criminal justice system. It escalates healthcare costs caused in part by violence-related injuries. As consumers or business owners, we ultimately pay to cover the expense of increased security.

Myth: Gangs have been around for years; there's really no way to stop them.

Fact: Complacent attitudes about gangs and violence translate to acceptance. During a recent 12-month period, the Arizona Criminal Justice Commission documented a 38 percent increase in gang members statewide. Want more evidence about the danger of inaction? Consider this: gang-related homicides in Phoenix increased 800 percent during a recent four-year period.

Myth: The violence problem is too big for one person to make an impact.

Fact: The good news is that one person can make a difference when it comes to youth violence. Research shows that by delivering a positive message repeatedly over time, a respected adult can help a young person change negative behaviors.

The Community Solution

Now that you can separate fact from fiction, let's take a look at how different organizations --- City of Phoenix Police Department --- various School Districts --- and numerous communities are working to stop youth violence through a community partnership called "Wake Up!" c.e.a.s. Violence.

"Wake Up!" was spurred by the April 1994 death of 4-year-old Ashley Boss in a drive-by shooting. This tragedy focused the community on the issue of youth violence and mobilized the Phoenix Police Department to launch the c.e.a.s. (Community Effort to Abate Street) Violence program.

The founders of c.e.a.s. Violence recognized that there is no single solution to societal problems like youth violence. Such challenges require the energy, creativity and resources generated by teams of committed businesses, organizations, and individuals from throughout the community.

"Wake Up!" --- a c.e.a.s. Violence program --- is the result of such dedication and enthusiasm. It was launched by Motorola, the City of Phoenix Police Department, and a host of local businesses. As a public-private partnership, "Wake Up!" demonstrates the positive results of law enforcement joining forces with business to improve the community.

"Wake Up!" strives to educate youth and the community about the consequences of youth violence and encourage positive solutions. Its goals are to:

Promote alternatives to violence and aggressive confrontations
Encourage young people to consider the consequences of their choices
Build adult, youth, and community leader involvement in the solutions to violence.
"Wake Up!" was launched with a 10-minute music video that speaks to youth in their own language and demonstrates the consequences of poor choices. The lyrics were written and performed by a young man who describes himself as a former street kid. The video illustrates the struggle of two brothers. Sam is fighting against the violent side of life in the "hood" while his younger sibling, Chris, falls victim to violence through his poor choices.

This powerful music video is a collaboration between and valley schools. As testimony to its quality, the "Wake Up!" music video has received more than a dozen awards, including an Emmy.

After watching the "Wake Up!" music video at their school, students are given the opportunity to commit themselves to consider the impact of their choices on themselves, their families and the community. Police officers and school liaisons work with the students throughout the year to continually reinforce the "Wake Up!" message.

An ambitious effort? Absolutely!! But the founders of "Wake Up!" believe with the support of dedicated individuals and organizations, success is well within our reach. "Wake Up!" is designed to change lives one person at a time. That means the most important aspect of a successful "Wake Up!" program are the individuals, businesses, and organizations that are involved and committed to making a difference.


Become Part of the Solution

In order to make a difference "Wake Up!" must grow. That means businesses, community organizations, and people also must take a pledge --- one that commits them to participating in this community-wide effort.

How can you get involved? The first step is to contact the Phoenix Police Department's "Wake Up!" coordinator to arrange a presentation for your business or community organization. Together, you can discuss the opportunities for participation in the "Wake Up!" program. Getting involved may be as simple as committing to:

Talk to young people about making positive choices
Provide alternatives to youth by supporting an existing youth-oriented group
Approach your employer about getting involved
Local businesses and other organizations can do the following:

Sponsor a "Wake Up!" Club in a local school
Organize a fund-raiser to support youth-oriented groups.