Job Opportunities for Youth to Decrease Violent Gang Behavior
Graduate Center for Social and Public Policy

Duquesne University's Graduate Center for Social and Public Policy, in collaboration with the Pittsburgh Mediation Center and Goodwill Industries, has undertaken a program to reduce gang-related violence through 1) an integrated two-year outreach program of conflict resolution and mediation training and intervention services for: a) gang members, b) youth at risk of involvement in gangs, c) university students, d) service agency personnel and e) the East Liberty and Hill District communities at large; and 2) a systematic linkage between gang members and youth at risk of involvement with gangs and educational and job opportunities. The latter involves an effort to match the needs of youths under the surveillance of the Juvenile Court with the vocational rehabilitation services offered by Goodwill Industries' Program for Career Information and Development.

In connection with these activities the Policy Center proposes to study the effectiveness of the two publicly funded youth programs that will collaborate with Duquesne in its proposed service activities, and will evaluate the effectiveness of its own mediation services, as well. The Policy Center will insure that an evaluation of the programs proposed to be used in Pittsburgh to reduce gang violence will be made available, nationwide, to serve as a model for other community-based programs with similar goals.

Project History