Youth Gangs & Violent Cliques (Example)

Youth.gov identifies several identifies several consequences some youth face through gang involvement:

• dropping out of school;
• teen parenthood;
• unemployment;
• victimization;
• drug and alcohol abuse;
• committing petty and violent crimes; and
• juvenile conviction and incarceration.

Further, a youth’s involvement with a gang (or gangs) also leads to an increased likelihood of economic hardship and family problems in adulthood, which in turn, contribute to involvement in street crime and/or arrest in adulthood. Research has suggested that the longer an adolescent stays in a gang the more disruption he or she will experience while transitioning into adulthood and in adulthood itself. Youth.gov 

Genius Prize Youth Competitions, bring together teams of youth to compete in creative demonstrations of solutions to real-world problems. GP participants cultivate teamwork, public speaking, open-ended problem-solving, and other important skills that will enrich all areas of their lives. By celebrating thought leadership in youth, we aim to normalize greatness and break through barriers to community success. In so doing, we shift the conversation away from the despair in low wealth communities and toward the power of youth to lead transformative grassroots initiatives through Genius Empowerment.