In our group we interviewed people who had been involved in gangs and gang activity to learn about some of the things they did and why. We went to Moe Smith's house and he told us about when he was involved in gang activity. He wasn't a part of a gang, but he did graffiti. Graffiti became addictive to him and sometimes he got in trouble for doing it. He also carried a gun to threaten people that threatened him. He became street smart. When he got older he decided to become a teacher to help kids and try to keep them from doing some of the things he did when he was younger. We also went to TROSA and met some ex-gang members and some people who suffered bad consequences for taking part in gang activities. Most teens start gangs or join gangs because they feel they need a second family and the gang will provide that. But in most cases it's not true. They always have to watch their backs from other gang members.

We also learned about consequences of teen violence and how teen violence might be prevented. When teens are violent, some consequences can range from jail to juvenile detention to in-school suspension. Some teens get violent because they are bored, but if they get involved in the community and play sports and do other activities, they would have something constructive to do with their time. Since adults are here to guide us, they should be the ones helping us get involved in these activities. Though a lot of people think that teens are just about rebelling, we do have more to offer, if only given honest care and the opportunity.