Amazing Stories

Every day the headlines confirm that gang memberships and gang violence are on the rise in Denver, Aurora, the suburbs and across the country. The media makes it sound so big and removed that many of us, unless we are directly affected by it, forget the gangs are not just numbers and statistics. They are made up of young lives, families, and neighborhoods. All colors, all ages, all income levels.

That's why we hope you'll take a few moments and read about Open Door Youth Gang Alternatives. We want you to know our plans, our dreams and our needs. But most of all, we want you to get to know different people whose lives have been forever altered by gangs. Because we think if you see the fear, the violence and pain through their eyes, you'll see that gangs are made of individuals. And only individuals lik eyou can help find a solution to the problem.

Here are their stories...

A. J.
Age 20
Ex-Member - Crips

How did you get involved in gangs?
I joined when I was 14. Started out with problems at home. At 16, I was on my own. I had really, like, no place to stay. I started staying with friends. They were selling drugs and stuff. They had their nice little clothes. Their nice little cars. They had a place to stay. It was easy. I had no responsibility. Not really thinking about the future. Just thinking about the moment. It was easy money. Fast money. And there was nothin' to do. So I took it from there. I was a member 5 1/2 years.

How did you meet Leon?
Leon came to my school. At the time, I didn't really dig into him. I thought he was just all talk, you know, like everyone else. Then I got in to trouble and I got commmited as a juvenile. So when I got out part of my parole was to get involved in a gang-alternative. And Leon Kelly, you know, he was always on TV. So I started coming down to the office and I started knowing him, doing different types of things. At the time, I was out just doing it to keep myself out of trouble. But as I got older, I was staying out of trouble so obviouisly it was working. It was sinking in.

What kinds of things did Leon tell you?
He didn't really have to say anything. It was just his actions, and the different programs he had. Being around opposing gang members and at the same time feeling comfortable around them. It started to sink in, hey, he's another person just like you. I started meeting opposing gang members and you could see how they really were. How their actions were instead of, you know, seeing their colors.

Tell us about your job now.
Well, I went to a board meeting (for Open Door) I just went with Leon. I kinda opened up a little bit. And there was a man there, I guess he kinda took interest in me. He told me if I graduated he'd try and get me a job at Martin Marietta. And so like a year later I went ahead and called him. I didn't think he was true to his word, but I called him and he remembered me and sent me an application. He got me a job at Martin Marietta. If I hadn't met Leon, I'd probably be in jail today. I want to get into school, be an engineer and minor in psychology.

What could people in the subarbs do to help?
They could do a lot. Get involved with the program. Money is the main thing. But if they'd at least recognize the program. I think most of them would open up and see that they could help. If Leon had more money he could open up more programs. Give us things to do. You can only play so much basketball.