PROGRAMS
Support/Healing Circles
The Support Project consists of peers, staff and former gang members meeting in informal and educational groups where they talk about issues facing youth in the gang life-style and in their personal lives. Designed to be a ‘safe’ environment, these group meetings encourage open discussions and help staff get to know and assess youth for more intensive intervention needs. The groups meet weekly and are open so a kid may begin attending at any time. Youth stay in these groups for ten to twelve weeks. If, after three months, the youth does not need more intervention, he/she is referred back to the original agency. Groups are conducted weekly. GRASP group meets every Thursday sessions are held at the 303 W. Colfax Ave Denver, CO 80204 beginning at 6:00 P.M., On the 9th Floor
AIM At-Risk Intervention Mentoring
AIM is Denver Health's hospital-based violence intervention program. AIM targets youth 10-24 who present to the emergency department after a traumatic injury. After meeting youth at the hospital bedside, outreach workers provide one-on-one focused mentoring of a period of months, building long term plans to change at-risk behaviors.
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El Joven Noble – The Noble Youth Rites of Passage Character Development
El Joven Noble is a comprehensive indigenous based, youth leadership development program that supports and guides youth through their "rites of passage" process while focusing on the prevention of substance abuse, teen pregnancy, relationship violence, gang violence and school failure. There are two phases or training and curriculum, base-training (Jovenes con Palabra)
Xinachtli – Female Rites of Passage Program
Xinachtli is an indigenous, culturally based female rites of passage program that provides a supportive process for young girls to develop a positive identity, life skills and support system,
GRASP Enterprises
GRASP has over 29 years of experience working with youth in Denver and building successful programs and partnerships. Using the combination of that experience and passion for the youth, we have formed a strong team to build on those successes and create a stable business. To provide youth with employment opportunities, GRASP developed a social enterprise, GRASP Enterprises. Our first venture, a silkscreen & embroidery shop, will provide the Job Readiness Training component, a curriculum developed in partnership with The Office of Economic Development, Servicios de La Raza, and others, as well as provide real-world skills and training.
Targeted Presentations they joined a gang, why and how they left the gang, and how they turned their lives around.
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Tattoo Removal Program criteria:
• Between 14-24 years old
• Complete 15 hour of community Service
• If under 20yrs must attend 10 Thursday night Healing Circles
• Tattoos must be in the qualifying areas ie. face, neck, arms and hands
• Must commit to a gang free lifestyle
• Must live in the Metro Denver area
Tattoo Removal Program is a collaborative effort between Tattoo Undo & Veins Too and GRASP (Gang Rescue and Support Project). The focus for this program is to assist youth in an integral part of a positive, lifestyle change. Tattoo removal is an important part, at any stage of change, in breaking one’s identity from the gang lifestyle and creating a person free of negative labels written on their skin to define who they are. It is, therefore, an expectation that each participant has already made the commitment to exit gang life and commit to a positive lifestyle void of gang identification. Tattoo removal would then become the next necessary step toward successful change, and reward for completing the rehabilitation process.
There has always been a parallel that could be drawn between the domestic economy, unemployment epidemics, and youth crime, particularly violent crime. Many youth growing up in the inner-city feel that the problems they face such as family dysfunction, gangs, drugs and alcohol abuse are what they deserve. The never ending cycle of violence that grips our barrios needs to be broken. GRASP (Gang Rescue and Support Project) is taking on the challenge by using graffiti art as a call to action.
The Barrio Unity Mural Project will use art as a social utility to bring to the forefront, issues of youth violence and the effects that gang lifestyle have on our families and the community.
