The speaker, a former MS-13 gang member, shares his personal story of joining the gang at 14, getting caught up in a life of violence and crime, and eventually leaving the gang with the help of a gang intervention group. He recounts how he was punished by society for his past mistakes, even after trying to turn his life around. He emphasizes the importance of creating a supportive environment for people to leave gangs and re-enter society, rather than isolating and punishing them. He now works as the executive director of a gang violence prevention and intervention organization, Homies Unidos, which helps youth and their families become advocates for social change. He argues that society can do better by providing opportunities for people with criminal histories to reintegrate into society, find employment, and belong.
Here are the key facts extracted from the text:
1. The speaker used to be a member of the MS-13 gang.
2. MS-13 originated in the 1980s in El Salvador during a civil war.
3. Thousands of Salvadoran refugees fled to the United States, including a boy named Nelson who later became a member of MS-13.
4. Nelson was deported back to El Salvador in 1996, but he returned to the US and became a respected member of MS-13.
5. The speaker grew up in a neighborhood controlled by MS-13 and was often bullied by gang members.
6. At 14 years old, the speaker joined MS-13 to gain respect and protection.
7. The speaker committed crimes and was arrested multiple times, but eventually decided to leave the gang.
8. The speaker was helped by a gang intervention group led by Alex Sanchez, a former MS-13 member.
9. The speaker worked in youth detention facilities as a youth counselor to help kids leave gangs.
10. The speaker was accused of starting MS-13 activities in Colorado and faced a possible 48-year sentence, but the charges were eventually dropped.
11. The speaker is now the executive director of Homies Unidos, a gang violence prevention and intervention organization in Denver.
12. Seventy percent of kids who try to leave a gang without a support system fail.
13. Homies Unidos helps kids leave gangs by providing a supportive environment and community activities.
14. The organization has helped hundreds of kids get out of gangs and stay out.