ABSTRACT
Violence that occurs outside the walls of youth development organizations can affect the job of a youth worker. Youth workers need to understand why young people engage in serious violence in order to respond appropriately. This chapter explains Jessica's experience in gang-related violence. Jessica's ability to persevere comes from her considerable firsthand knowledge of gang violence in the city. Three major dilemmas confronted Jessica in her handling of the aftermath of gang-related violence. The first was the enormous task of ensuring the safety of youth organization. The second dilemma was attempting to understand the motivations of high-risk, gang-involved youth and what could encourage them to get out of the gang lifestyle. The third dilemma was more existential. Jessica struggled with the purpose of her work given the number of young people she has known who have succumbed to gang involvement.
