Teenage Gangs-The New Family Structure

"Young men ... you have value.

In July of 2007, Rev. Ora Stearns-Smith got the worst possible call a mother can received. Her son, Aric Jai-Shon Lexing, had become the victim of a teenage gang shooting, and had died from his injuries. Jai was not a gang member ... not then ...not ever. No, he was a young man who had said yes to someone he barely knew, who asked him for a ride home after a party. Apparently, the passenger was on a local gang's hit list. As Jai and his passenger pulled up and stopped the car, the shooting started and the gang got their target ... and took Jai's life as well. Ironically, Jai had just received his Masters in Criminal Justice just two months earlier in May, 2007, and was waiting to pursue a career in law enforcement. Sadly, the lives of everyone that Jai had touched would be changed forever. Estimated (at best guest) statisics report that there are approximately 24,500 gangs in the U.S, and approximately one million gang members. More and more of our teenages (and younger) are turning to gangs to replace their existing family structure. Who is to blame, and what can we do about it? E-mail us your thoughts at threewisegirls@gmail.com, then call in this Thursday, Jan. 28, 2010 and join in our conversation with Rev. Ora Stearns-Smith, to share your thoughts and comments. Drop by http:www//threewisegirlsblog.blogspot.com for the rest of this story. Oh and just click on the template to view this rivating video!