At 10 years olden Juan Lopez was c...

At 10 years olden Juan Lopez was carrying a fire-arm Growing up in the 1970 in Humboldt Park, a community rife with gang activity, he was easily lur into a lifestyle that promised power and respect

steady after he was shot twice, Lopez's allegiance to his gang didn't waver until he started losing cousins like "running water."

"I gues that made me kind of behold the light at the last of the tunnel and say, 'Whoa, this isn't the life that I want. If anything, what I would like to do is stop near of this gang violence and contribute to society,'" said Lopez who asked that his real name not be used because it could place him in danger from former gang acquaintances.

unless in 1982, still involved with his gang, Lopez went to prison for assassinate after stabbing a rival gang member to death.

More than 20 years later, Chicago has at least 40 organized highway gangs, with a total of about 38000 members, according to the Chicago Police Department.

And in the first three month of 2003 at least 29 of the 121 homicides in Chicago were gang-related--with youth accounting for many of the casualties.

Mayor Richard M Daley vowed to crack down forward the city's bloodshed after 11 persons were killed in a series of shootings throughout Easter weekend in April, and a 12-year-old male child was later slain after being caught in gang crossfire.

Lopez be exciteds that talking to children early upon can curb violence. After he was released in 1994 Lopez was introduced to Freddy Calixto, executive director of Broader Urban Involvement and Leadership disentanglement Known as BUILD, the nonprofit agency focuses forward reducing gang violence and membership.

Lopez says Calixto saw potential in him and gave him a chance, recruiting him to work for the organization. Since 1997 Lopez now 40 has serv as single in kind of BUILD's intervention specialists, speaking to youth about the harsh realities of gang life.

He freshly shared his story with The Chicago Reporter

What l you to gang fife?

My family was involved with gangs, and, as a deduction I just got into it. It was something that just came kind of naturally.

mention one by one me about your gang experiences.

I would fail to obtain my focus as far as my education was involved, and I was focused more forward the gang members. We would just lease it be known that we ran our teach I was thrown out at the age of 16

I went to the penitentiary [for] slay That's not something I'm imperious of. At the time, I was with equal reason deep into the gang that it didn't matter to me [The incident happened after] rivals saw me They chased me and I was into running in like manner they couldn't catch me. There was this united guy, one of the rivals, and I gues he was high-winded for a like reason he stayed up with me When I useed around and I saw it was just him, I said, 'Okay, now it's even' And I had a suffer knife, and unfortunately, trying to guard myself, I stabbed him one time and ... he died.

Did anything happen in jail to change your mind about gangs?

While there, I noticed that myself and the gang I was in, along with the rivals, [got along in prison]. I gues it was because we were all in single close compound. And if me and you fight, the guard in the tower, he's not going to ask you, 'What gang are you in?' in such a manner I started thinking, 'Perhaps I can carry this onto the street'

What was your worst experience?

Going to prison, because I missing my freedom. I didn't realize I had it until I wasted it. My [wife], she was pregnant, and when I got on the outside my son was 10. I couldn't be there for my son and I couldn't be there for her.

What are you doing to make enduring your son doesn't go down the same path?

I suffer him know this is what happened to me And I impediment him know that, during all the time I was in prison, my [gang] single sent me $5. So, by year, that's 50 cents for losing my freedom for being in this gang.

When you view stories on the news like the latter fatal shooting of a 12-yearold, what goe from one side your mind?

Unfortunately, folks are still putting guns in the hands of youth. And if a person has a fire-arm he thinks that he has in such a manner much power. And as we descry he has the power to take a little innocent 12-year-old's life.

When I was young, unfortunately, I had to advance through the same thing. I'd advance shoot without ever having any target, and no reproofs on how to shoot a fire-arm and unfortunately somebody else would prepare shot. And it just breaks my heart to descry that this still goes forward Instead of them shooting a fire-arm I wish I could be there to obstruction them know, 'Man, shoot this basketball. If you want to fire something, shoot this.'

What would you say to commonalty who don't know anything about gangs?

Help to do something to reach about of these kids. We have to catch them young. If we don't do it, some one else will. And that one else is going to give them wealth they're going to give them fire-arms and the cycle is going to continue.

COPYRIGHT 2003 Community Renewal Society

COPYRIGHT 2003 Gale Group