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Graffiti Hotline: 311

Introduction

The Gang Alternatives Program (GAP) is a 501(c)(3) non-profit organization founded in 1986 with a mission to eliminate the base of gang membership by having a generation of young people say "No" to gangs and "Yes to positive lifestyle choices.

History of the Gang Alternatives Program (GAP)

Los Angeles has a long history of gang activities and gang violence. In the early 1980s, Los Angeles Police Department statistics showed the Harbor area had a high level of gang activity and resulting crime. In 1986, the San Pedro/Harbor Youth Violence Reduction Round Table was convened by United Way and the County Supervisors to examine what local strategies could be developed to examine the problem, identify the causes of youth violence, and determine what local strategies could be developed to effectively address this problem. GAP was formed as a result of this meeting. The original components were a classroom curriculum, parent education, youth recreational activities, and graffiti clean up in the Harbor Area of Los Angeles.

The components of the GAP program are a school-based youth gang prevention curriculum for 2nd, 4th and 6th grades, a court approved parent education program, an extensive graffiti abatement program,a bulky items pick up program,community beautification, job training and development, case management, and outreach and referral services. Since 1986, GAP has grown from 3 to 61 employees. GAP now serves Baldwin Hills, Boyle Heights, Carson, Compton, Del Aire, El Monte, Gardena, Harbor City, Harbor Gateway, Hawaiian Gardens, La Rambla Lennox, Lomita, Long Beach, Lynwood, San Pedro, Watts, and Wilmington

GAP links with other community based organizations, community councils, city officials, USDOJ, LACOE, and LAUSD to provide quality programs to improve the community and reduce gang membership. GAP also provides opportunities for college interns to learn about non-profit agencies and gain hands on experience. GAP is a member of the Harbor Area Family Development Network (Toberman Settlement House, lead agency; Boys and Girls Club of LA Harbor, Catholic Charities Mahar House, YWCA of the Harbor, and Joint Efforts, members). GAP participates as a member of the US Department of Justice Weed and Seed Program in Harbor Gateway (LAPD, lead). GAP also is a member of the UCLA/RAND Center for Adolescent Health Community Advisory Board, the Los Angeles Neighborhood Initiative, the New Dana Strand Housing Project Service Provider Network, and several Healthy Start collaboratives.

Gang Alternatives Program Staff 2007

Board of Directors & Officers:

GAP Board Members Doug Semark and Tara O'Brien Present a Bike to a Weed and Seed Summer Youth Employement worker! (The bike was given anonymously by a board member in the name of the board.)