'Our young men are dying' Pt 1

2-day summit tackles gang violence

A think tank convened in Liberty City on Monday, preparing for a two-day summit to battle gang violence and deal with the release of felons.

BY CHARLES RABIN

crabin@MiamiHerald.com

The set-up: two round tables on a small stage at the Carrie P. Meek Cultural Center in Liberty City. At one table, four concerned parents. At the other, drug dealers and gang members.

But who was who? As an audience of law enforcement agents and residents met Monday to discuss reshaping how South Florida handles gang violence and the hardships of felons returning to society, that was among the questions they faced.

'Good afternoon. None of y'all know me -- but your kids know me. I been takin' care of your kids, scoopin' your daughters up, cuz guess what I need 'em to do?'' said one man, who identified himself only as ``Mr. M.''

The audience applauded. And ''Mr. B,'' at the other table, was infuriated.

''I'd appreciate it if y'all don't applaud these people. Y'all are sick,'' he said. Nobody clapped.

But the men had reversed their roles, for effect. Mr. B was former Philadelphia gang member Fabian Walker. Mr. M, Green Bay Packers strong safety Marquand Manuel.

The lesson: Perception often isn't reality. But for people like Francisco Guerra a former Latin Kings gang leader in Chicago, the reality is that once you become a convicted felon, jobs and acceptance are tough to come by.

Monday's gathering was a peek into a two-day summit that begins today in Miami that will be attended by more than 200 criminal-justice professionals from around the country. The goal is to create new strategies for helping felons reacquaint with society and for dealing with gangs.

FLORIDA FELONS

A recent study by the Governor's Ex-Offender Task Force concluded that Florida has the third-largest prison population in the United States, with more than 30,000 felons trying to reenter the workforce each year.

The task force determined that under current conditions, most ex-offenders will not abide by the law after they return home.

Guerra argued Monday that South Florida doesn't have a real gang problem. What it has, he said, is a debilitating drug problem that law enforcement fails to keep up with.

Guerra, 40, said raising two kids the past 16 years has been a struggle, with him often working odd construction jobs at low wages. For some, the struggle is too much.

''Everybody wants to get out. They just don't know how. There are a million reasons I can give you,'' he said. ``We need help, starting in our homes. Grab 'em and school 'em. Don't grab 'em and treat 'em like gang bangers.''

Artis Brown spoke of spending a decade in prison on drug charges. Two years ago, he got a criminal justice degree. He's still looking for work, he said.

''Give him a job in gang violence,'' Brown said pointing to Guerra. ``Give me a job as a motivational speaker.''

Then it was back to the Packers' Manuel, a local high school graduate and University of Florida alum who runs a mentoring program each year at Booker T. Washington High School.

One of 18 children, he told of how tough it was growing up in the inner city.

COCAINE AT 9

''I was holding cocaine at 9 years old. I didn't know what it was. My kids have to grow up here. I want to intervene before it gets to that point,'' he said.

Earlier Monday the same group met with inmates inside West Miami-Dade's Turner Guilford Knight correctional facility. Wayne E. Rawlins, who coordinates Project Safe Neighborhoods, a group that fights gun violence, said they spoke mainly with juveniles charged with adult crimes.

''There is no parent. There is no home. And foster care is not an option for them,'' he said.