EUGANGS Community Safety WorkshopMentoring Young Adults Away From Violence

Keith Blackburn

Lessons From America: The Flamo Story

•Aim: Understand how to apply different methods of relationship building in a teenage/gang related environment.

Assessment Criteria: • Identify different methods of relationship building in a teenager/gang related environment.

• Explain the importance of trust and respect in negotiating and changing boundaries in a teenage/gang related environment.

• Evaluate the appropriateness of using different methods of relationship building in a teenage/gang related environment.

• Reflect on methods of relationship building in a teenage/gang related environment.

Cobe Williams - Husband, Father and Violence Interrupter

Is 38 and has been working at Cease Fire as a Violence Interrupter for four years. Scarred by hisfather's murder, he began a downward spiral at the age of twelve. Cobe spent three stints inprison, for drug related offences and for attempted murder. Cobe decided to turn his lifearound with the help of his family.

Cobe disarms others with his humour and his general good nature, he knows the language – what to say, when to say it.” Cobe too has big time credibility with the gang members because of his past, which allows him to easily insert himself within the conflict in order to resolve it.

His most challenging moment comes when he has to confront a man so hell bent on revenge , Cobehas to pat him down to make sure he's put away his gun. Like the other Interrupters, he gets deeplyinvolved in the lives of those he encounters. During the course of filming Cobe mediated 50 conflicts,more than any other interrupter had ever accomplished.

RELATIONSHIP BUILDING IN A ‘PROFESSIONAL/CLIENT’ BASED RELATIONSHIP

This is not staged or put together the clip that you are about to see, Is dealing with real life incidents.

Flamo is known in the community as a hot head and someone you don’t want to mess with, His mother and disabled brother have been arrested and he knows who called the police.

Time for the Violence Interrupters:

Flamo All Scenes

This clip will show what can be achieved, When building positive relationships.

Question 1

•If you were Flamo’s mentor what would you do to build the relationship with him?

•Put class into groups of 3 for discussion on the Question, Allow 3 minutes.

Question 2

• Were there any other things that you saw the mentors doing that have not on the list ?

• Were there any other things that you saw the mentors doing that are not on the list ?

Lessons From America: The Flamo Story

•Aim: Understand how to apply different methods of relationship building in a teenage/gang related environment.

Assessment Criteria: • Identify different methods of relationship building in a teenager/gang related environment.

• Explain the importance of trust and respect in negotiating and changing boundaries in a teenage/gang related environment.

• Evaluate the appropriateness of using different methods of relationship building in a teenage/gang related environment.

• Reflect on methods of relationship building in a teenage/gang related environment.

The Role Of Violence Interrupters

• The Violence Interrupters leverage mediation skills, cultural knowledge and street credibility to gain the respect and confidence of people in conflict.

• Could someone with mediation training but without a similar background and experience be as effective as the Interrupters?

• What unique role can women play in conflict mediation?

• For Cobe, Ameena and Eddie, being an Interrupter is about more than just stopping fights; it is about interrupting the status quo and making a positive difference in their community.

• What does being an Interrupter mean to you?

• In what ways have you acted as an Interrupter in your community?

Surviving Our Streets: London A Working Example

• England: Local partner Surviving our Streets implemented the Cure Violence model in Cookham Wood Youth Offenders Institute from January to December 2013.

• An external evaluation found that the program resulted in a 38% reduction in violent incidents and a 95% reduction in group attacks.

Surviving Our Streets Cookham Wood Prison Violence Interrupters

Introducing Aspects of Relationship Building

We are now going to take a look at a group of youth and community workers in Birmingham and examine how they have developed meaningful relationships in gang/teenage related environments.

Witness Gangsters Made Good The Young Disciples

The Practitioners Toolkit

In groups of 3 please answer the following questions.

A) What do young people need want from a relationship with a mentor or significant adult?.

B) What are the qualities that enable practitioners to build effective relationships with young people?.

C) What skills do practitioners need to build effective relationships with young people?.