Professional Applications in Service Learning Journal Entries
While serving as a volunteer, the experiences and knowledge which I gained complement the theories which I have been learning in a traditional classroom setting. Working, talking and interacting with people from all walks of life has given me different perspectives and insights into human behavior, and the social-economic factors which make joining gangs attractive for juveniles.
I joined as a member of a street outreach program team which was set up to practice “Gang mediation” with documented juvenile gang members. I learned from other members of the team that such conflicts typically involve 2 or 3 individuals, consisting of youths which a history of violence, imprisonment, gang membership and weapons. There are cases where the conflicts involve 10 or more people, but such larger conflicts are less common and more likely to be gang-related. Due to the potential for armed conflict, weapons and violent fights breaking out between large groups of armed youths, this activity carries a high danger risk. I had to be alert and diplomatic at all times when I was with the team. The case which I took part with the team was a conflict between 2 members of a rival gang, and it was resolved and deescalated through negotiation. Through this case, I witnessed the process of mediating a street conflict which involves assessing multiple factors about the situation, the people involved, and the actions that will likely bring about a nonviolent resolution.
This opportunity allowed me to witness how the street outreach program team managed the combinations of settings, individuals and risk factors which allowed mediation to be carried out effectively. The risk factors include: number of people involved, whether or not the incident was related to retaliation, and likelihood of shooting. Through this experience, I learned the importance of negotiation and communication in deescalating the potential for violence.
Working with the street outreach program team in such a high-risk environment certainly has its challenges, but I am grateful for such an opportunity in gaining experience in nonviolent conflict resolution and …
