Gangs—and ways to curb urban violence

BY SANDRA JUSTAD

From New York to Detroit, Los Angeles to Guayaquil, Ecuador—and points in between—gangs have been a longtime part of the urban scene. New York had its first immigrant gangs in the mid 1880s. Today, Guayaquil boasts over 200, and Los Angeles has over 800 gangs, with hundreds of thousands of members.

Gang expert and historian, Alex Alanso, says you can't get rid of gangs; instead, you have to find ways to curb the violence. Because the primary feeders into gangs are single-parent families, he would, if he could, require all fathers to be present and raising their kids.

Nelsa Curbelo founded Ser Paz ("Being Peace") in 1999. By providing training and education and microloans so they can start their own businesses, Ser paz helps gang members in Guayaquil, Ecuador, to reintegrate into society. In this city of three million, at least 60,000 youths are gang members.

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