My name is Laverne Mitchell I am the founder of
the non-profit organization GANGS BE GONE.
We are non-profit, but we need your support. Now, I started this
organization to make a difference in the lives of our youth that are influenced
and corrupted by gangs. Prevention
and intervention in the lives of these children are the keys to winning our
communities back. I was a mother
of two, years back my 17 year old son Demetris was killed by gang members in a
random drive-by shooting. My son
was a great kid he had a 3.5 grade point average and was planning to go to
college, play sports, have a family and be a productive and successful member of
the community. That dream was
taken from him by a random act of violence. The emotional scars, grief, anger,
pain, and the reality of a dead child lost to gang violence cannot be put into
words. I still had one child left
and I had to be strong, and I pledged that gangs would not take him from
me. James has gone on to be
successful and is currently getting his master’s degree from National
University, has a family and is living his dream.
If you’ve watched the news, surfed the internet or seen the prison
population numbers then you know gang membership has grown to unprecedented
levels and they have the biggest business and most employees in San Diego. They have destroyed many lives, ended
dreams and taken opportunities from our youth. NOW, it is time we step up as a
community take our kids back and get our kids out of gangs.
It has taken me some time to figure out the best way to combat and fight
gangs. Recently, I was led to
create this organization and our goal is to help prevent gangs from destroying
anyone else’s life, dreams and future by reaching out to the youth in our
community. Did you know that
gangs only survive by replenishing their ranks with our children and making them
serve their cause? I will devote
all my time, energy and effort to this fight, and take our children back. “WE
CAN MAKE A DIFFERENCE”.
Lastly, the best way to stop something bad from happening is to prevent
it from happening someone else.
,
the non-profit organization GANGS BE GONE.
We are non-profit, but we need your support. Now, I started this
organization to make a difference in the lives of our youth that are influenced
and corrupted by gangs. Prevention
and intervention in the lives of these children are the keys to winning our
communities back. I was a mother
of two, years back my 17 year old son Demetris was killed by gang members in a
random drive-by shooting. My son
was a great kid he had a 3.5 grade point average and was planning to go to
college, play sports, have a family and be a productive and successful member of
the community. That dream was
taken from him by a random act of violence. The emotional scars, grief, anger,
pain, and the reality of a dead child lost to gang violence cannot be put into
words. I still had one child left
and I had to be strong, and I pledged that gangs would not take him from
me. James has gone on to be
successful and is currently getting his master’s degree from National
University, has a family and is living his dream.
If you’ve watched the news, surfed the internet or seen the prison
population numbers then you know gang membership has grown to unprecedented
levels and they have the biggest business and most employees in San Diego. They have destroyed many lives, ended
dreams and taken opportunities from our youth. NOW, it is time we step up as a
community take our kids back and get our kids out of gangs.
It has taken me some time to figure out the best way to combat and fight
gangs. Recently, I was led to
create this organization and our goal is to help prevent gangs from destroying
anyone else’s life, dreams and future by reaching out to the youth in our
community. Did you know that
gangs only survive by replenishing their ranks with our children and making them
serve their cause? I will devote
all my time, energy and effort to this fight, and take our children back. “WE
CAN MAKE A DIFFERENCE”.
Lastly, the best way to stop something bad from happening is to prevent
it from happening someone else.
,