I attended a presentation at San Diego State University on March 10, 2016. The presenters included Joey Nuñez Estrada, Robert Hernandez, Steve Kim, Conrad Fuentes, and Nati Alvarado. The presentation was focused on considering the definitional issues, cultural components, and the impact of trauma when working with vulnerable youth susceptible to gang-involvement. I chose to attend this presentation because I had a friend who used to be in the Foster Care system and shared his experience with me regarding how he found a family through his gang affiliation, and I wanted to learn more about how to help this youth population find family without the terms and conditions, so to speak. I also attended this presentation because it was offered through our class and is a population that Dr. Estrada works closely with.
The presentation really focused on the stereotypes of gang members, and debunking those stereotypes. The big take home message I got from the presenters, and some of the youth that were in the audience was the value in forming relationships with students and not assuming who they are and what they are about based on the little you know about their gang association. The big picture idea was that gangs are stereotyped, just as many other cultures, and that these stereotypes mask the truth behind gang affiliation and perpetuate systematic racism against people of color. Many times our youth join gangs for the love and acceptance that they may not be getting at home, school, or other institutions in the community. Gang affiliation provides the basic human needs that we all desire, which are security, love, belonging, validation, esteem, and identity.
Unfortunately, in order to receive the love and acceptance you seek through this peer group, you have to perform some tasks that are not socially acceptable and cause heartache and loss for people who are not affiliated with your gang. For example, in order to determine one’s loyalty to the gang, the members may ask you to commit a drive-by shooting or beat someone up. Once you perform this task, the gang may feel that you have proven your loyalty to them and in exchange grant you acceptance and protection.
As a school counselor working with a population susceptible to gang involvement, it is important to remember that relationships are key and in order to make real change and impact the lives of our students in a positive way, we must form relationships and hear our students’ stories. It is through their stories that we will learn what is important to them and provide them with the resources and community that they are seeking through their possible gang affiliation.
Forming relationships with students is not something I would only do with this population; I would try to form relationships with all my students. This is a part of rapport building, which is a key component in all therapeutic theories and is to be used with all students of all ages. In order to be a good counselor you have to be able to build relationships with your students. This has been proven over and over again. If you are not able to build a relationship with someone, there is no way they will let you into their thoughts and lives. In order to really impact people and make positive change, you have to first get to know the person and understand their values and goals. I would know if I was successful at building a relationship with someone once they open up to me and are able to share their story with me.
When building a relationship with students we have to be culturally sensitive and understand that building those relationships is going to look different with every student. While thinking about the gang culture and the youth who are susceptible to joining a gang, I imagine that I will need to approach those students with a curious and nonjudgmental stance in order to show them that I am willing to invest my time and care in them. Because some of the youth who are susceptible to gang affiliation are looking for trusting relationships, I feel that this is where I would need to start in order to be able to help these kids so that they do not end up doing things they will regret later, or even worse, dying. By showing love, care, understanding and providing resources and choices to my students, I feel that I will be successful in building relationships with them and preventing certain life decisions that could negatively impact their future lives.
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Brigitte Brikho
Student, M.S. in Counseling
San Diego State University
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