Confused

So as I do research for Diversion programs I find myself even more confused about exactly what our mission is for our group. I understand the need to find successful diversion techniques in order to help ComVida and prove its importance. I have researched a diversion group in Cali and concluded that an effective group must have community involvement, self determination, and an appreciation/sense of knowledge for culture. From the research I have done I feel it s important to create some sort of activity or group youth can be apart of within the program that will keep their minds active and encourage their culture, diverse backgrounds, and ideas even if they are not what some people may consider "important" or "beneficial." I am still in the process on conducting more information on what exactly it means to be a diversion program and any trends within youth that may cause or have a connection with the youths actions or behaviors. From one of the programs I have researched, Barrios Unidos, this is some important information I have received.

Facts:

-Opposes gang violence and promotes peace and welfare

-Grew out of Mexican American civil rights and anti war movements of 1960s

- Founded by Nane Alejandrez who served in the Vietnam war and was a heroin addicted gang banger turned social activist/youth advocate

-Promotes Unity amongst families and neighbors through community building efforts

-Strategies:

1. Leadership and Human Capital Development

-culturally based education

-train community leaders by offering community service4 opportunities and skills development
-prepare continuum of integrational leaders
-contribute to well being of families and to social, economic, and civic life of community
-recruit, train, and employ community workers who have experienced and overcome challenges
2. Community Economic Development
-Economic Advancement and self sufficiency through community based land develpoment, the acquisition and management of property and business assets, education, job preparedness, skills building, access to new computer tech
-Creation of barrio enterprise zones that support entrepreneurial ventures, family, and micro businesses
3. Civic Participation and Community Mobilization
- Achieve equity of opportunity, resource access, health and well being in civic and community life
- By affecting and instituting real change requires multi-sector involvement and collab
4. Cultural Arts and Rec Activity
-Provide central communal space for ceremony
-Religious/political holidays, rec activities, rights of passage celebrations, commemorations all are sources of community building
5. Coalition Building
-In order to provide organizing support to communities that have established Barrios Unidos chapters
-Multi racial coalitions and alliances that advance common ground issues and social change strategies pertaining to violence prevention, criminal and juvenile justice, public health, human immigration policy and educational reform

-Theories of Change:

1. Draw heavily on Chican@/Mexican@ culture: Spiritual and cultural traditions
   
2. Build Community based structures to support organizing and social cohesion by restoring cultural traditions
3. Root causes of interpersonal and street violence are found in social conditions of poverty, racism, discrimination, inadequate housing and education, unemployment, poor health care
4. Cultural Consciousness and political action
5. Promote community self reliance and economic development
6. Commitment to working in interracial alliances and coalitions

-Values

1. Cultural Identity and tradition
2. Organizational identity: cultural consciousness, understanding, and expression
3. Cultural Integrity and respect: tolerance and respect for all
4. Justice and Community Peace: solidarity, partnership, collab and coalition w/ other activists
5. Economic self reliance and empowerment
6. Civic and Political Empowerment

-other programs: Cesar E. Chavez school, Community Economic Development, Community Outreach