“Serving At-Risk Youth”

1. God’s Gangsters TM “Serving At-Risk Youth” A Presentation on the Increase of Local Gangs

2. “Blood In – Blood Out” This picture was taken during a backyard initiation. The kid on the ground is being brutally attacked by four of his comrades. He’s showing his dedication, usefulness, and loyalty to the group, by proving to them that at any given time he could handle himself during a large gang fight. If he proves himself to be useful, than this process of being “jumped or beat” in as the gangs call it, is a success. The blessing to the newcomer… is the earned right to become one of them; to be protected, respected and loved.

3. “Branded” Not long after the initiation is the moment of receiving the markings of the organization joined. The markings range from sizes large or small; common tattoos or burn marks; certain placements of the markings on the body.

4. Role Models Throughout life, young people have always found themselves people to look up to; superheroes per se. It’s the same concept in the lifestyle of a gangster; except the heroes in their stories aren’t so nice. Their heroes end up being the meanest, toughest, and the most willing to commit a crime out of the group.

5. Gangs are leaving their message across the region. Above, two boys wearing the red bandannas of the Bloods encounter graffiti left by their arch-rivals, the Crips, on the side of a hotel at the Virginia Beach Oceanfront. STEPHEN M. KATZ PHOTOS/THE VIRGINIAN-PILOT The “Bloods” are moving in Hampton Roads For several years, another nation-wide gang called the “Bloods” have had their eyes set on the Hampton Roads metro as one of it’s places of residence. Behind the public eye, the membership has been greatly increasing. They are one of the strongest gang presences within our area. They have a presence in almost every middle and high school throughout our metro. Drug Sales and the increase of Territory are their two primary focuses. Have you been seeing a lot of RED? Tourists eyeball two young Bloods from Hampton strutting down Atlantic Avenue in Virginia Beach. The Bloods, like other area gangs, are part of an outlaw network that spans both sides of the river, connecting the Peninsula and South Hampton Roads. Story can be viewed on http://home.hamptonroads.com/stories/story.cfm?story=88715&ran=203206

6. Crips Posing: Blood Rivals This is a snapshot of a pocket group of another popular Nation-Wide gang called the Crips. The same goes for the Crips as far as presence. If there’s RED there’s going to be BLUE. They DO NOT get along! Statistically, not many make it out of this lifestyle undamaged. Incarceration, Injury and even Death are part of the package for joining. Virginia…meet our very own homeland terrorist. They terrorize our schools, our Communities, our Malls, our Parks, even our Churches.

7. What is God’s X Gangsters? God’s XGangsters is an urban-based network of services, led by ex-gangsters, dedicated to providing alternatives to the Violent Youth and Families in Virginia. In 1998, Bill Emery reached to his neighborhood’s hurting youth. Soon theft, rape, assault, and even murder began to knock on the door. These opportunities led to a knitted core team of leaders. Within the first and second year, these young leaders were soon receiving state-wide attention. Offers to share these successes began to pour in from churches, schools, correctional facilities, and state initiatives like Right Choices for Youth. “Our hearts are led to ‘set the captives free’ – free from crime, alcohol, drug addictions, generational poverty, and every destructive lifestyle.” – Marvin Gumba

8. In 1999 and 2000, we became a ministry with a lot to offer. State and Federal officials were inviting us to share our expertise in the fields of gang deterrence and the effective handling of At-Risk Youth, generated by our stage programs. In 2001, the Surgeon’s General invited our team to Philadelphia to share our thoughts and strategies addressing youth violence for the S/G’s Report. 2001-2003 were the years that the Fatherhood Initiative* adopted our ministry to do speaking engagements on “Why is it so important to have a father in the house?” *(A State-Wide program challenging the fathers of Virginia to spend more time with their children and to become a financial partner in the household.) Soon after our political exposure, began the snowball effect of the Networking of Faith-Based Ministries to where we not only pursued our own goals but became capable of assisting neighborhood networks in theirs.

9. Sgt. Ronald McInnis of the Norfolk Sheriff’s Department removes the shackles from Allen, an Insane Gangster Disciple who wants to go straight. Allen’s life is a crystal ball for young gang members – a look into their futures. In the year 2004, we became one of the National Program to speak with in regards to Gang deterrence and At-Risk Youth. Now it’s 2005, 7 years after our birthing. We now have facets of services in-house that serves multiple needs that youth face. With that in mind, we are ready to serve multiple city-wide networks that link into state-wide network of providers. This map will provide each region a firm hitching post to link with as they move forward into their next steps as we gather momentum.

10. What does God’s X Gangsters provide? Education Transititional Housing • GED Training and Testing • Housing for Those In Transition • From a Correctional Facility back into • Society • Individual Tutoring • Computer Training • After School Tutoring Referral Agency • GXG Leadership Curriculum Rehabilitation • For 6 years, GXG has focused on • networking State and Local agencies • in order to increase the effectiveness • of rehabilitating an individual. • 12-Step To Recovery (i.e. AA/NA) • Individual Counseling • Personal Support Mechanism Jail/Prison Support:Elective Services including... Job Training • Preparatory Classes/Work Modules • Visitational Support • Internships • Court Approved – Second Chance Ministry • Coming Soon: • Staffing Company • In-House Stage Show Presentations More to come…