Gun violence interrupters point to promise of intervention programs
ABC News
Experts say examining the environment that perpetuates gun violence is key to understanding the latest uptick in communities of color.
In North Lawndale, a neighborhood on the West Side of Chicago laden with crime and poverty, Derek Brown, founder of Boxing Out Negativity, has taken the fight against gun violence off the street and into the ring.
His program provides mentorship and a safe space for at-risk youth who are more likely to be swept up into street life.
"I’m a counselor, I’m a teacher, I’m a motivator, I’m whatever our children need," Brown told ABC News. "Boxing took troubled kids and started programming them. In order to be 'bad' here, you have to run at least five miles a day, exercise all day, repeat the same techniques over and over and over until you get it mastered."
"We're not just fighting our way inside the ring, we're fighting our way through life," Brown continued. "Our everyday objective is to fight for ourselves, our families and friends and communities."
