UNITED
WE STAND UP
Serving Our Community
THE MODEL
HEALING
Unifying Communities
Changing Norms:
Within Gang Culture
HEALING
Research shows that gangs and trauma are typically joined hand and hand. Many of the actions of so-called gang members stem from unaddressed childhood traumatic experiences which may include parental abandonment, physical and sexual abuse, witnessing excessive violence, and much more. United We Stand Up has created a safe space to engage in the process of healing.
We embody the healing process in three ways (click below for more information):
Unifying Communities
United We Stand Up has successfully fostered at least four peace treaties with rival communities on the eastside of Los Angeles. Our primary aim is to help foster more reconciliations while maintaining the peace that has already been established.
We embody the Unity movement in three ways (click below for more information):
Changing Norms:
Within Gang Culture
South Central Los Angeles communities have been faced with gang violence for years. It is widely understood that most of the young people who join gangs do so to obtain clout, protection, respect, and a sense of family and belonging. None of these goals are flawed in themselves. Still, the road to those goals has been distorted. Our community needs a system and appropriate approach to empower our young kings and queens to foster safe and secure family structures and environments and to receive the individual and cultural respect they seek by teaching them to become H.E.R.O.E.S in their community. In this fashion, they are equipped to fulfill the need for purpose and a distinguished identity.
Most importantly, UWSU is providing these heroes with a healthy place of belonging to include extended family circles. The goal is to change what is currently known as “Gang-Banging” to Community Serving. UWSU does not aim to remove individuals from the tribe they consider family. We aim to change the focus of the ‘so-called’ gang members, who will, in turn, ultimately change the nature of what is considered gang culture.