Helping Gang Members: Positive Tip
A Place for gang members to get help
We're gonna step this up a little. We all know about the struggles and the loss. The pain and the hurt. But it's not just about that. Through the years this site has seen so many people triumph. People overcoming difficult circumstances. We have had people turn their lives round: Find good jobs, excel as writers, rappers and poets.
Here's the place to put a word to the positive. Let's change the focus and challenge preconceived ideas. Tell us about the positives. How has your life changed, what have you overcome?
Like Romans 8:37 says "in all these things we are more than conquerors through him that loved us."
"aight peep i used to bang blood to the fullest and that took up most of my time you know but once i found gangstyles old poetry boards i used to post up and the feedback really built my self esteem enough that i felt i could send something to a publisher and now im a published poet. Sin
Catch This Vibe by Dollface
Life is chances, so live it Being safe and always scared isn't living at all. Just go prey to a god you don't neccesarily believe in,but others give their entire soul, so u think why not give internal happiness a shot? continued
Raising Money For Cancer Treatment
My name is scott aka Hatter i am co capitain for arelay for life team here in va beach. I am doing this for my mother in law for my mother in law who is dying of brain cancer. She only has 6- 9 months her name is Linda and she lives in N.H. and two friends with colon cancer. One of whom passed 5 years ago.
Whether it's a friend, family member, or neighbor down the street, we all know someone who has been touched by cancer. Many of us are concerned about this disease and want to do something to make a difference. That's why I've decided to take part in the American Cancer Society Relay For LifeŽ . It's an event that brings together the whole community and helps raise funds for the fight against this disease. I know you care about cancer, too, and I'd love for you to join me as part of my Relay team.
At the event, we'll camp out overnight, walk around the track, and meet lots of new people. There is an incredible tribute to cancer survivors and caregivers that starts off the night and a moving ceremony honoring those who have fought the disease. I can truly say Relay is unlike anything else you'll ever do. It's a night full of fun, hope, and remembrance.
Won't you join me in this fight?
This was a great piece that was sent to us a while back that summed up what we all want to be and what we want to make this page and this site about.
As I look back on my childhood, stolen away by inner suffering, I am ashamed. Cause what did I do that was beneficial? How did I grow? What did I learn of honour, honesty, and independace from this gang life? All the opportunitys I let slip away, I missed so many chances. There were so many moments for my great voice, my rhymes, my songs, to reach even to the gates of heaven. But those words stayed locked within my soul, buried them deep in the back of my mind. So what do I do now that Im not a child anymore? Now that Im grown and nothing more can be learned about the cruel world around me? Ive seen it all, cold blooded murder, torture, drivebys, watchin my daddy die, how do I channge what I have become? Here is the moment for words of passion, for wild indiscriminate words that can waken, madden, and unleash, keep all the kids from rollin and ending up like this, regretting every moment of their life and no way to change. But the world knows, my crew knows, the po know the great power some of us have, of which they are afraid. And yet again my voice dies away, as thunder fades away over mountains and echoes and re-echoes more and more faintly. -THE KRYZ-
You Can Do It Ladies =D by Lady Mocha
Hey ladies =D
For those of you who dont know me, HI! my names Shanna : )
I thought id share a little bit about my Gang Rape experience, feelings, thoughts and self worth in hope that it will speak of ECOURAGEMENT and HOPE to you all =D continued
Movies Worth Checking out
Last couple of weeks I have caught a couple of gang related movies based on true stories, Freedom Writers and Gridiron Gang. Both of them struck a chord and both have essentially the same theme at heart. Life is tough but even through that people can change.
Of the two Freedom Writes is the better, more realistic movie detailing the true story of a freshman, idealistic teacher being handed an English class comprising rival Black, Mexican and Vietnamese gangs. The school system has labeled them failures and she's really given nothing more to do that contain the class. She doesn't settle for that and gets the kids to realize they have more in common than those things that separate them. Most of the kids have lost people to the streets or jail. The teacher encourages the class to keep a diary every day detailing their lives with the promise that no-one will ver read it unless they leave it in a class locker. This inspires the kids to write some brilliant, harsh reality and through this realize they have other possibilities in life.
Class grades start rising and the class starts raising money to bring people to the school to talk about life, while they face opposition from the school authorities who think the kids don't deserve the effort. They read about the holocaust and how people were picked out because they were different. It's a great film about struggle, hope and transformation and one that everyone on this site could relate to. You only have to look at the writing sent to this site to see the talent and heart on the streets. It's time more of us started to believe and live out God's gloriois plan for our lives and stop those who tell us we're not good enough.
Get a hold of this movie. It's well worth an evening of your time.
Tell us what you think by posting on our Postive Tip board.
Gridiron Gang is set in Juve and centers around an officers efforts to set up a football team and bring together a group of kids that are divided by race or gang. There are a few sub plots centering on perseverance and redemption, overcoming gang colors and so on. A blood and a crip on the team continue their beefs as one was involved in the death of the other's cousin. Can they overcome the obtacles that have kept them apart for the sake of the team. It's more light hearted than Freedom Writers with some funny moments and can be enjoyed by anyone who enjoys sports movies also. Again it shows there is hope but tempers that with the reality and the lure of the streets for those returning there.
Jesus Heals The Leper Luke 5:12-16
Ok, so what's this got to do with Positive Tip or Gang life? That's what I thought until I heard someone preach on this recently.
We have to remember that in Biblical times the lepers were the outcasts of society like gang members are treated today. As soon as I saw that the following made a lot more sense.
So here's the text:
[12] While Jesus was in one of the towns, a man came along who was covered with leprosy. When he saw Jesus, he fell with his face to the ground and begged him, "Lord, if you are willing, you can make me clean."
[13] Jesus reached out his hand and touched the man. "I am willing," he said. "Be clean!" And immediately the leprosy left him.
[14] Then Jesus ordered him, "Don't tell anyone, but go, show yourself to the priest and offer the sacrifices that Moses commanded for your cleansing, as a testimony to them."
[15] Yet the news about him spread all the more, so that crowds of people came to hear him and to be healed of their sicknesses.
First off this shows us Christ's love. He's not interested in what society thinks of people, he draws nears when others move away. We have heard it so many times on this site how people treat Gs differently. We also see that the leper himself did not feel worthy of the attention. So often Gs feel that their lives are so messed up they don't deserve the good things in life. Jesus shows love for everyone whatever their situation. He also demonstrates his ability to clean us, all of us, whatever we have done, wherever we have been...and that's great news.
Jesus sends the leper to the priest as they were needed to confirm jealing and also because with leprosy people were not allowed into the temple. This also illustrates that Jesus can change us completely. How many of us haven't gone to church becuase we don't feel good enough or that we behave well enough? Time to shake that as we're loved and valued in God's eyes even if we're hated in society's eyes.
The hope here also is that news of the change spread and the same goes for you or me if we make that change and step into God's will other's will notice and it will effect change in them.
It's time for us to be healed through Christ.
Dream by LS
Yo, check my philosophy, happiness ain't all about monopoly, I put aside the guns & robberies, see good guys copyin' me, The good times is here, rainy days is clear, You wanna go where everybody knows your name like "cheers" continued
Breath of Fresh Air by Anghellic
Wow look, A breath of fresh air. I cling to it like My freshly greased hair. I'm not thinking of Gangs or blood and guts today. continued
Makin' Amends by Hatchet
life...its like a whirlwind...you know right where it begins//aint got no fuckn clue where it ends...so you better forget your pride and make amends//put your differences aside and make amends...dont care how much your will bends//man fuck your friends make amends...im gonna lay it out real quick again make amends//dont you think its bout time you gave your life that little extra shine..go ahead and take a look at mine...all this glittering gold and sparkling crystal//aint none of it come from totin a pistol..comes from puttin my differences aside and makin amends//forgettin my pride and makin amends...
Lino
Here I thought I had messed my son up beyond fixing. I thought my 5 year old boy was gonna get kicked out of kindergarden, 2 weeks into the school year! I had the teacher calling me, telling me how defiant he was and how he was a leader who not only was distracted himself, but he would lead 3 or 4 other kids into being bad. continued
Public Defenders Actually Picked Me
Today was my first day working 4 the county defenders here. Can't believe they actually
picked me. I applied for this internship program and when I heard there was an opening @
the defenders office, I wanted it but doubted I'd get it. Lo and behold I got it! continued
Imagine That...
As media reports detailed the carnage of a gang war that gripped North
Las Vegas earlier this year, Los Angeles native Dray watched with particular interest.
Murders came in rapid-fire succession, violence springing anew with each death. By late
August, 16 people were dead, all killed in a multi-block area on the Las Vegas-North
Las Vegas border. The chaos reminded Dray of his childhood in gang-controlled
South Central. "I witnessed beatings and shootings ... violence was normal," says
Dray, who only goes by that singular name. continued
My Life Is All I Have.....
Wasup yo!! I wanna tell ya about a homie like dat wanna change and get out of this
gang-life 'cuz it aint for me. My name is Carlo but homies call me Los. I started
gang-bangin/puttin' in werk at the age of 13 ... continued
my new life
my life is finally at the best point it has ever been,i just got this job in mesa
arizona,im gonna be working with runaway and abused girls continued
ey whassup
i don't b postin much on ne boardz cept tha poetry board.. but now i'm jus sittin hea
thinkin bout sum stuff.... and i started ta think u kno where would i b wit out dis
board.. continued
The future for us
I been sitting here thinkin all mornin since I came to the site this mornin bout what the
future holds for our generation.continued
Perspective
The best thing you can do for yourself if you're tryin' to get out of the gang life is get
yourself somewhere where you can see things from a different angle. Get out of the 'hood
for a little while, look around, see how the rest of the world works. I know from my own
life that it's damn near impossible to do while you're still on the streets.continued
Gangstyle and Me
WHEN I FIRST CAME TO THIS SITE I WAZ GREETED BY A COUPLE WELL WISHERS. WELL ACTUALLY
LISTA, JEY AND SHADOW.. AND OVER THE YEARS I HAVE COME TO CALL THEM AND MANY MORE MY
G~SPOT FAMILIA. WHEN I NEED SUMONE THEY ARE THERE AND I AM THERE THE SAME. BUT WHEN I
FIRST FOUND THIS SITE I WAZ LOST.. MEANING THAT I COULDN'T EVEN FIND MYSELF.continued
Lived To Tell The Tale
I found this site while lookin' around to see what folks that have been where I have been
are doing. People I know now think I should write a book about where I've been. I try to
tell them it's not an unusual life. There's lot's of folks been there, I just got lucky to
live long enough to get out.continued
A Future For Our Kids
We got to find a medium for kids to realize being a kid doesnt mean bein on the streets.
Just be a kid, ya know what happened to those teenage yrs chasin girls, or goin over your
friends house and hangin out with a group of kids watching movies. Doin what normal teens
do. continued
The Party
cmere and sit on my knee
come on baby come talk wit me
damn girl u look so fine
what you doin here tonight? continued
BLOODZ-CRIPZ...and life in kalifornia.
WHEN I WUZ IN HIGH SCHOOL ONE OF MY HOMIEZ WUZ A KRIP. WE HAD THA SAME SKIN
KOLOR AND THE ONLY THING THAT WUZ DIFFERENT WUS WHERE WE WUZ FRUM.2 TELL THA TRUTH, WE
WERE KOOL WITH EACH OTHER JUSS OUT OF RESPECT AT FIRST,B-CAUZE I WUZ GOIN OUT WITH HIZ
SISTER. continued
Something More Precious
I was put on my set in 1984. Being that I wasnt black didnt help much so we branched off
and started our own set, put in years of work for the flag and did plenty of time behind
bars. Over the years I lost many friends, family, loved ones, not just homies but real
close friends too. I lost my freedom most of all. During my last spell of Murder2 charges
I came to realise a few things about life. Now, many years later, I am a qualified Youth
Counsellor, have a Degree in Counselling and Anger Stress Management. I keep in contact
with some people I could never let go of, but more so, I now take care of soemthing more
precious than anything I ever had in my life, something worth living for and something
worth being proud of over everything,.. Its easy taking a persons life, but its hard when
you have to cherish one. Both my little girls, one age 10 and the other age 5 are all I
ever needed in my life. Its a shame it took me so long to realise that. Marcus Suitor
Counsellor/Senior Advisor London ENGLAND (Europe)
SUN SHINE
THE ANGER INSIDE IS SLOWLY FADIN AWAY, I KNOW TOMORROW WILL BE A BRIGHTER DAY, THE SUN
WILL SHINE ON US FOREVER NO MATTER HOW WE ALL FEEL,
I KNOW SOMETIMES WE WISH FOR DEATH, BUT
REMEMBER U WILL BE LEAVIN SOMEONE THAT CARES,
U WILL BE LEAVIN SOMEONE EMPTY INSIDE, SO JUS TRY AND MAKE IT EVERYDAY AND EVERYTHING WILL
BE OKAY,
I'M HERE FOR YOU ALL, I'LL NEVER LET NE OF U FALL,
I GOT UR BACK AS U GOT MINE, TOGETHER WE'LL WATCH THE SUN SHINE
DEDICATED 2 ALL THOSE PEEPS IN NEED OF A FRIEND
TRILOCC
The Truth Comes Out
Aiigh, this is gonna be harsh for some to read, but I want to get the truth out. I haven't
been able to sleep all night cuz I've been reading this book that says that if you have
hidden, bad memories you can get them out by talking about them and confiding in those you
trust. continued
Martial Arts
This is an overview of how how the martial arts has changed my life and kicks off the
Positive tip part of the site. And this is how martial arts can change the lives of you,
youth and kids in your area as well. continued
