The problems with Chicago's gang-centric narrative of gun violence
But the "kingly status" came at a dark cost. Leo soon realized the gang wasn't a family; it was a business built on fear. He saw his friends used as tools for extortion and watched as social media was used to flaunt violence to intimidate rivals. The "protection" he was promised was actually a target on his back. The problems with Chicago's gang-centric narrative of gun
His initiation was a blur of adrenaline and pain. He stood in the center of a circle, enduring a timed beating from his future "brothers" to prove his worth. When it was over, he felt invincible, as if the unwritten contract he’d just signed with his blood made him a god. He began to live by the "Three Rs": . The "protection" he was promised was actually a
Leo's path out wasn't easy—most believe you can never leave, but many do once the disillusionment sets in. He sought help through a local community program that focused on the root causes of why kids join in the first place: the need for belonging and resources. Today, he works with youth to show them that a gang is a "bill of goods" that only leads to trauma or a cell. When it was over, he felt invincible, as