THE CHOOSE GANG FREE TEAM
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ANDREA
CGF DIRECTOR WHAT EXPERIENCE DO YOU HAVE WORKING WITH "AT RISK" YOUTH?
WHAT IS YOUR FAVORITE PART OF YOUR JOB?
IS IT EVER TOO LATE TO SAVE A YOUTH FROM GANG INVOLVEMENT?
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BREE
CGF COORDINATOR 
WHAT EXPERIENCE DO YOU HAVE WORKING WITH "AT RISK" YOUTH?
I started working at an elementary school right out of high school. I worked there for 2 years and then left to pursue another career option. In 2016 I wanted to go back to working with youth and started to work at a boys and girls drug and alcohol residential treatment center. After 9 months of being there, they closed the treatment center. I looked for other jobs with youth and was so excited to see that the Choose Gang Free program was looking for advocates! I started out teaching our elementary curriculum and moved into an advocate position. I recently moved into a program coordinator position and I love every second of it! WHAT IS YOUR FAVORITE PART OF YOUR JOB?
I have so many favorite things about the job that I do so I have to say my top 2! I love watching the kids grow into someone they thought they could never be. Helping them see the value in the life they live is just awesome. My other favorite thing about this job is the community events we do. We are always striving to educate, volunteer and take on new projects. IS IT EVER TOO LATE TO SAVE A YOUTH FROM GANG INVOLVEMENT?
Oh heck no!! But for real, it’s never too late! |
ERICA
CGF COORDINATOR 
WHAT EXPERIENCE DO YOU HAVE WORKING WITH "AT RISK" YOUTH?
I started working with youth when I was in high school. I worked at a recreation center in my neighborhood; helping youth with sports, after school activities, as well as summer programs. In 2014, while I was in college, I would come back to Salt Lake City to help coach a 7th/8th grade girls basketball team during the summers. In 2015, after graduating college, I decided that I wanted to work with at risk youth for my career. I started out by working at a summer day treatment program for at risk youth; as well as working at a high school during the school year, with high functioning SPED students. I worked at this high school for 3 years, until I decided to work at a residential treatment center for at risk youth. At this point in my career, I had been searching for a job in juvenile justice or anything involving helping at risk youth, that I would want to keep long-term. I found that Choose Gang Free was hiring, and after reading the job description I knew this was what I wanted. I started out as an advocate in the schools and I loved being able to help at risk youth and make a difference in their lives. I have been with Choose Gang Free for almost 2 years, and now I am able to take a big part in helping organizing events, as well as continuing to help at risk youth, and I couldn’t be happier. WHAT IS YOUR FAVORITE PART OF YOUR JOB?
I love working for Choose Gang Free because of all the different things that we do, so it’s hard for me to decide on just one favorite thing about this job. I love the community events that we take part in, to be able to educate our surrounding communities as well as interact with them during our own events. I also love being able to see our clients grow while working through the CGF program such as; learning new skills and opportunities, being able to realize there is more to life than gangs and supporting them while they implement their new skills in their lives. IS IT EVER TOO LATE TO SAVE A YOUTH FROM GANG INVOLVEMENT?
I don’t think that it is ever too late, especially for youth, to help them become the person that they are capable of being! So, NO its never too late! |
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CECILEY
CGF ADVOCATE 
WHAT EXPERIENCE DO YOU HAVE WORKING WITH "AT RISK" YOUTH?
I Spent 5 years working at an elementary school, 3 of which I was working with "anger management" students. I spent three summers as an Especially For Youth Counselor and this is really where I found my passion working with youth. After graduating from the U of U, I spent the next 5 years working at East High School as the Youth Advocate. To this day, those students still mean everything to me. I currently work as a Gang Prevention Specialist/Advocate in the Choose Gang Free Program and I am LOVING it! WHAT IS YOUR FAVORITE PART OF YOUR JOB?
My favorite part of my job is spending time with incredible youth and having an opportunity to truly make a difference. I LOVE being part of the Choose Gang Free Team. I work with the most incredibly passionate, driven, and fun group of people. IS IT EVER TOO LATE TO SAVE A YOUTH FROM GANG INVOLVEMENT?
NEVER. I am a firm believer that EVERYONE has infinite potential and deserves a second chance. Most of the kids I have worked with simply needed someone to believe in them and then THEY made the changes necessary to improve their own lives. No kid is ever a waste of time and it is never too late to give them your best effort. |
GALAAD
CGF ADVOCATE WHAT EXPERIENCE DO YOU HAVE WORKING WITH "AT RISK" YOUTH?
WHAT IS YOUR FAVORITE PART OF YOUR JOB?
IS IT EVER TOO LATE TO SAVE A YOUTH FROM GANG INVOLVEMENT?
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LANI
CGF ADVOCATE 
WHAT EXPERIENCE DO YOU HAVE WORKING WITH "AT RISK" YOUTH?
Right out of my professional basketball career, I went straight to working in special education at West High School. I worked there for 4 years. During that time I also had other opportunities working inside of the Youth Detention Center and Youth Care. I had developed a passion for working with at risk youth in our community. I wanted to try something new from special education and I took my opportunity here at Choose Gang Free! I currently work in 2 schools as a prevention/intervention advocate. WHAT IS YOUR FAVORITE PART OF YOUR JOB?
I love working for Choose Gang Free because I love to give back to my community. I love to help my kids see that there is more to life than being in a gang. I get to be that positive support for them, whether it’s in the schools, community or even if they end up in court. One thing that I get excited about is watching them grow into young adults. IS IT EVER TOO LATE TO SAVE A YOUTH FROM GANG INVOLVEMENT?
It’s never too late to change the direction that your life is going in. |
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MEGAN
CGF ADVOCATE 
WHAT EXPERIENCE DO YOU HAVE WORKING WITH "AT RISK" YOUTH?
I have worked with at risk youth in high schools helping them learn coping skills, decision making methods, and showing them how much potential they have in life. WHAT IS YOUR FAVORITE PART OF YOUR JOB?
My favorite part of the job is building a relationship with the client and being in their corner as part of their support system. IS IT EVER TOO LATE TO SAVE A YOUTH FROM GANG INVOLVEMENT?
I believe that it is never too late to save an at risk youth from gang involvement. It may take time and a lot of work, but all youth are worth it no matter what. |
ROB
CGF ADVOCATE 
WHAT EXPERIENCE DO YOU HAVE WORKING WITH "AT RISK" YOUTH?
I started my career working with troubled juveniles at Salt Lake Valley Detention Center, becoming the Senior Counselor for the Delta 1 and Alpha Unit’s in 2013-2015 then worked at a residential behavior unit at Copper Hills Youth Center from 2015-2016. I became a Gang Prevention Specialist for the Salt Lake Gang Area Project/Choose Gang Free Program in 2016. I have grown up involved in gangs most of my life as well as been in the music industry since 2001, and would like to share my knowledge in order to help you better understand the youth and how hip hop culture influences gang activity. WHAT IS YOUR FAVORITE PART OF YOUR JOB?
Being able to show kids opportunities other than gang involvement for a more positive lifestyle. IS IT EVER TOO LATE TO SAVE A YOUTH FROM GANG INVOLVEMENT?
Nope, every saint has a past and every sinner has a future. |
SHAY
CGF ADVOCATE 
WHAT EXPERIENCE DO YOU HAVE WORKING WITH "AT RISK" YOUTH?
I started working at Hunter High School while I was going to school to become a teacher. I worked as a tracker for two years and then became the lead academic advisor. I loved helping students who were struggling to succeed and to have confidence in themselves, work hard and eventually graduate. I worked at Hunter until I finished school and realized that although I wanted to work with youth, I did not want to be in the classroom. I was so happy to find out about the Choose Gang Free Program and couldn’t wait to be a part of it. WHAT IS YOUR FAVORITE PART OF YOUR JOB?
I love working for Choose Gang Free because all the awesome kids I get to work with. I love getting to know their story and maybe help them to realize a dream they may have not thought possible. I hope to help them grow and realize their full potential. I also love the community outreach that we participate in. The community events let me get involved in the neighborhood and get to know the people! IS IT EVER TOO LATE TO SAVE A YOUTH FROM GANG INVOLVEMENT?
Never! I believe that everyone should have a chance to turn their life in a positive direction. In life nothing is set in stone and ANYONE can choose to be or choose a different path. And everyone should be given the chance to do so :) |
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SONDRA
CGF ADVOCATE 
WHAT EXPERIENCE DO YOU HAVE WORKING WITH "AT RISK" YOUTH?
WHAT IS YOUR FAVORITE PART OF YOUR JOB?
IS IT EVER TOO LATE TO SAVE A YOUTH FROM GANG INVOLVEMENT?
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VINCENT
CGF ADVOCATE 
WHAT EXPERIENCE DO YOU HAVE WORKING WITH "AT RISK" YOUTH?
I have worked for many different organizations that help youth in a variety of ways. I worked 4 years at a youth treatment center as a case manager. I spent 2 years working as an adviser at an academy for at risk youth. I also spent a year working at the homeless youth center. My upbringing could have easily changed me for the worst, but because of hardworking parents and strong religious values I was surrounded around temptation and still was able to live a goal driven life. WHAT IS YOUR FAVORITE PART OF YOUR JOB?
I enjoy finding out all the different hobbies our youth are interested in, like sports, music/art, and culture. I use these interests to help find more pro-social activities for our students to participate in. With hopes to lessen time spent with their gangs, or to leave their gangs entirely, I encourage the youth to have that interest become a full time commitment. IS IT EVER TOO LATE TO SAVE A YOUTH FROM GANG INVOLVEMENT?
As a father I would never give up on any of my children because they are our future. The youth I work with get the same treatment, my full effort and support, because THEY are our future. |
PAX
CGF MASCOT 
WHAT EXPERIENCE DO YOU HAVE WORKING WITH "AT RISK" YOUTH?
WHAT IS YOUR FAVORITE PART OF YOUR JOB?
IS IT EVER TOO LATE TO SAVE A YOUTH FROM GANG INVOLVEMENT?
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