Our purpose:
This Capstone project’s main purpose is to effect a positive change relating to gang violence in Chicago’s most dangerous neighborhoods: Austin, Englewood, and North Lawndale. This will be accomplished with creating social media and traditional advertising/public relations campaigns. Our objective is to win the community’s hearts and minds, inspiring them to unite and act for positive change. The end result is a movement that can sustain itself and restore pride and a sense of ownership in these communities.
Terms defined:
Internet Banging (aka Facebook Drilling): The use of different social media methods, such as tweeting or posting on Facebook, or Facebook Live between members of rival gangs. These exchanges are intended to incite violence, reveal when or where there will be another scene of gang violence, or who the intended victim is. This is used as a way to taunt and threaten. Additionally, gangs use these platforms to showcase their successes (e.g. the removal of certain gang members or encroaching on another gang’s territory).
Gang Culture: Gang Culture refers to the collective identity, or shared culture, that the members of a gang have. This may refer to a common code that they use to communicate with each other, insignia/symbol of their gang, clothing (such as hat positioning, shirt/pant styles, or shoes worn), etc. Each gang has their own system, practices, and culture. These are used as a way of differentiation, especially between members of rival gangs.
Gang Culture: Gang Culture refers to the collective identity, or shared culture, that the members of a gang have. This may refer to a common code that they use to communicate with each other, insignia/symbol of their gang, clothing (such as hat positioning, shirt/pant styles, or shoes worn), etc. Each gang has their own system, practices, and culture. These are used as a way of differentiation, especially between members of rival gangs.
current context: comparative analysis & Chicago gun violence statistics
In order to put in perspective the gravity of Chicago’s violence, I first completed a comparative analysis of Chicago’s violence versus other US cities, of similar size. Chicago is the third most populous city in the United States, behind New York City and Los Angeles. But, on a crime per capita (crime per 100,000 people) basis, Chicago has the highest of the three cities (New York 3.3, Los Angeles 5.1, and Chicago 10.2)[1]. This year, from January 1st through June 30th, there were 147 murders in New York City[2]. Every year, since the early 2000s, their murder rate has gone down. In Los Angeles, the crime rate has remained steady; and, has gone down in the past few years as well. This year in Los Angeles, there were only 227 murders[3].
But in Chicago, during the period of August 3-5, 2018 (Lollapalooza Weekend), the city had its most violent weekend of the year, so far. Over the course of three days, there were over 60 people shot and 12 people killed. There were 33 shooting incidents, 46 arrests for gun charges, and around 60 guns that were confiscated[4]. According to the Chicago Tribune’s Homicide Data Tracker (which is updated on a weekly basis), as of November 24, 2018, there have been over 500 deaths, due to violence, in Chicago, so far.
Most of the deaths have happened during the hot summer months, on the weekends, and at late hours. The majority of the violence is concentrated in Chicago’s south and west side neighborhoods. Those involved in many reported shootings are often young, African American men[5]. According to former gang unit police officer, Ray Johnson of West Chicago, the violence and homicide rate in Chicago is the same as it was in 1924. The only difference is that violence has become concentrated in a few areas compared to it being spread throughout the city.
[1] http://www.baruch.cuny.edu/nycdata/public_safety/crime-selectcities.htm
[2] https://www.wsj.com/articles/new-york-city-murders-on-the-rise-in-2018-nypd-data-shows-1531262595
[3] https://www.cityrating.com/crime-statistics/california/los-angeles.html
[4] https://www.cnn.com/2018/08/05/us/chicago-weekend-shootings
[5] http://www.chicagotribune.com/news/local/breaking/ct-chicago-homicides-data-tracker-htmlstory.html
But in Chicago, during the period of August 3-5, 2018 (Lollapalooza Weekend), the city had its most violent weekend of the year, so far. Over the course of three days, there were over 60 people shot and 12 people killed. There were 33 shooting incidents, 46 arrests for gun charges, and around 60 guns that were confiscated[4]. According to the Chicago Tribune’s Homicide Data Tracker (which is updated on a weekly basis), as of November 24, 2018, there have been over 500 deaths, due to violence, in Chicago, so far.
Most of the deaths have happened during the hot summer months, on the weekends, and at late hours. The majority of the violence is concentrated in Chicago’s south and west side neighborhoods. Those involved in many reported shootings are often young, African American men[5]. According to former gang unit police officer, Ray Johnson of West Chicago, the violence and homicide rate in Chicago is the same as it was in 1924. The only difference is that violence has become concentrated in a few areas compared to it being spread throughout the city.
[1] http://www.baruch.cuny.edu/nycdata/public_safety/crime-selectcities.htm
[2] https://www.wsj.com/articles/new-york-city-murders-on-the-rise-in-2018-nypd-data-shows-1531262595
[3] https://www.cityrating.com/crime-statistics/california/los-angeles.html
[4] https://www.cnn.com/2018/08/05/us/chicago-weekend-shootings
[5] http://www.chicagotribune.com/news/local/breaking/ct-chicago-homicides-data-tracker-htmlstory.html
issue to address #1: gang recruitment
Understanding the demographics of the Austin, Englewood, and North Lawndale neighborhoods can provide insights to the motivations as to why the youth are attracted to gangs. Poverty is a major factor in the increased membership in gangs. In these areas, there is a serious lack of financial security; 48.3% of residents make less than $25K per year.
Here are the demographics of these three neighborhoods:
In addition, studies show that most of the children in these neighborhoods lack a strong family unit. They come from single-parent households[4]. They typically join gangs at a young age. For some, this gives them a sense of belonging. For others, it is peer pressure. And those who have family members that are gang members, or were former gang members, are more likely to join themselves. Communities are apt to have higher rates of gang activity if they lack job opportunities for the youth, are impoverished, and have low high school graduation rates[5]. However, there is hope. In a 2007 journal of the Justice Policy Institute, it reported that the main motivation that youth quit gangs is because of the fear of repetitive violence. In many cases, they were victims of gun violence. In some cases, “[their] maturation process was often linked to having children [early] (children raising children).[6]” Even with these motivations, it is still difficult to quit being a member of a gang. “The principal barrier to leaving a gang is not fear of punishment by the gang, but the difficulty many gang members face when they try to make new lives for themselves.[7]”
[1] https://www.niche.com/places-to-live/n/austin-chicago-il/residents/
[2] https://www.niche.com/places-to-live/n/englewood-chicago-il/residents/
[3] https://www.niche.com/places-to-live/n/north-lawndale-chicago-il/residents/
[4] https://www.nationalgangcenter.gov/Video
[5] http://www.gangfree.org/gangs_why.html
[6] http://www.justicepolicy.org/images/upload/07-07_ch5_gangwars_gc-ps-ac-jj.pdf
[7] http://www.justicepolicy.org/images/upload/07-07_ch5_gangwars_gc-ps-ac-jj.pdf
Here are the demographics of these three neighborhoods:
- Austin: 88,610 people, 23% of population are 10-24 years old, 86% African American, 11% Hispanic and 42% of residents make less than $25,000 a year.[1]
- Englewood: 56,818 people, 22% of population are 10-24 years old, 93% African American, 5% Hispanic and 53% of residents make less than $25,000 a year.[2]
- North Lawndale: 39,134 people, 26% of population are 10-24 years old, 80% African American, 16% Hispanic and 50% of residents make less than $25,000 a year.[3]
In addition, studies show that most of the children in these neighborhoods lack a strong family unit. They come from single-parent households[4]. They typically join gangs at a young age. For some, this gives them a sense of belonging. For others, it is peer pressure. And those who have family members that are gang members, or were former gang members, are more likely to join themselves. Communities are apt to have higher rates of gang activity if they lack job opportunities for the youth, are impoverished, and have low high school graduation rates[5]. However, there is hope. In a 2007 journal of the Justice Policy Institute, it reported that the main motivation that youth quit gangs is because of the fear of repetitive violence. In many cases, they were victims of gun violence. In some cases, “[their] maturation process was often linked to having children [early] (children raising children).[6]” Even with these motivations, it is still difficult to quit being a member of a gang. “The principal barrier to leaving a gang is not fear of punishment by the gang, but the difficulty many gang members face when they try to make new lives for themselves.[7]”
[1] https://www.niche.com/places-to-live/n/austin-chicago-il/residents/
[2] https://www.niche.com/places-to-live/n/englewood-chicago-il/residents/
[3] https://www.niche.com/places-to-live/n/north-lawndale-chicago-il/residents/
[4] https://www.nationalgangcenter.gov/Video
[5] http://www.gangfree.org/gangs_why.html
[6] http://www.justicepolicy.org/images/upload/07-07_ch5_gangwars_gc-ps-ac-jj.pdf
[7] http://www.justicepolicy.org/images/upload/07-07_ch5_gangwars_gc-ps-ac-jj.pdf
issue to address #2: Gangs and social media
The use of social media platforms, especially Facebook and Twitter, has changed how gangs interact. It has given them a new way to connect. Social media has made taunting between gangs easier. This has been dubbed as Cyber Banging or Internet Banging. In Englewood, there was a case in 2012 where two members of rival gangs, Lil JoJo and Chief Keef, released threatening “music” videos on YouTube and Twitter, directed at each other. They had a violent verbal exchange on the medium, and, by that afternoon, Lil JoJo was shot dead. The resulting death caused a chain reaction of retaliatory killings.
According to the WIRED Magazine article Public Enemies: Social Media is Fueling Gang Wars in Chicago, there is another term that has been used to describe someone (a gangbanger) who purposefully stirs up trouble online - a Facebook Driller[1]. According to Andrew Henning, the general counsel at the Chicago Crime Commission, “You don’t have to call someone out anymore. You don’t have to send a text message. It’s all on Facebook Live.”[2] Desmond Patton, an assistant professor of social work and sociology at Columbia University, has pointed out why social media taunting is dangerous. “These posts don’t go away. You see people pulling up posts from two months ago, even a year ago, and how it can trigger conflict between gangs.”[3] Patton has been the one to spearhead a project at Columbia called the SAFE Lab. This project is made up of people from a variety of disciplines and backgrounds (e.g. computer science, social workers, and anti-violence groups) in Chicago. Working together, they are developing a system that will monitor social media data in real time, to send out alerts to social workers in these neighborhoods. He hopes to let those on the ground know; so, they can intervene before violence breaks out.
Luckily, there have been actions done by police departments to also monitor social media channels to combat gang violence. In cities like New York (Operation Crew Cut) and New Orleans, who partnered with tech company Palantir, have been using Artificial Intelligence (AI) programs to identify potential perpetrators of violence from the company’s data mining of social media channels.
[1] https://www.wired.com/2013/09/gangs-of-social-media/
[2] https://www.washingtonpost.com/news/speaking-of-science/wp/2018/06/13/how-emoji-can-kill-as-gangs-move-online-social-media-fuels-violence/?noredirect=on&utm_term=.932996aa6793
[3] https://www.washingtonpost.com/news/speaking-of-science/wp/2018/06/13/how-emoji-can-kill-as-gangs-move-online-social-media-fuels-violence/?noredirect=on&utm_term=.932996aa6793
According to the WIRED Magazine article Public Enemies: Social Media is Fueling Gang Wars in Chicago, there is another term that has been used to describe someone (a gangbanger) who purposefully stirs up trouble online - a Facebook Driller[1]. According to Andrew Henning, the general counsel at the Chicago Crime Commission, “You don’t have to call someone out anymore. You don’t have to send a text message. It’s all on Facebook Live.”[2] Desmond Patton, an assistant professor of social work and sociology at Columbia University, has pointed out why social media taunting is dangerous. “These posts don’t go away. You see people pulling up posts from two months ago, even a year ago, and how it can trigger conflict between gangs.”[3] Patton has been the one to spearhead a project at Columbia called the SAFE Lab. This project is made up of people from a variety of disciplines and backgrounds (e.g. computer science, social workers, and anti-violence groups) in Chicago. Working together, they are developing a system that will monitor social media data in real time, to send out alerts to social workers in these neighborhoods. He hopes to let those on the ground know; so, they can intervene before violence breaks out.
Luckily, there have been actions done by police departments to also monitor social media channels to combat gang violence. In cities like New York (Operation Crew Cut) and New Orleans, who partnered with tech company Palantir, have been using Artificial Intelligence (AI) programs to identify potential perpetrators of violence from the company’s data mining of social media channels.
[1] https://www.wired.com/2013/09/gangs-of-social-media/
[2] https://www.washingtonpost.com/news/speaking-of-science/wp/2018/06/13/how-emoji-can-kill-as-gangs-move-online-social-media-fuels-violence/?noredirect=on&utm_term=.932996aa6793
[3] https://www.washingtonpost.com/news/speaking-of-science/wp/2018/06/13/how-emoji-can-kill-as-gangs-move-online-social-media-fuels-violence/?noredirect=on&utm_term=.932996aa6793
issue to address #3: silent witnesses
“Snitches get stitches” or in Chicago’s case, “snitches get shot”. From an NPR article in 2012, “[Chicago Police Department (CPD)] stats show arrests are being made in 30% of shooting homicides, while close to 80% of nonfatal shootings are going unsolved.”[1] Even as of 2016, only 79% of homicides have been unsolved.[2] Many unsolved homicides are because of witnesses who are unwilling to come forward. People are naturally fearful for themselves and their family’s lives because of gang retaliation, thus creating a “code of silence”.
Gun shooting victims often know who shot them but will not cooperate with police officers; because of this, the perpetrators are getting away with murder. “It’s more likely that they know the shooter, it might be a member of their family, might be their cousin or grandson” says Professor Art Lurigio, psychology and criminology professor at Loyola University Chicago. Some people, like resident Joenathan Woods, believe that police “[don’t] put much effort into investigating crimes…especially if it appears to be gang-on-gang and happens in poor, black neighborhoods.”[3] From this statement, it appears that, on top of a “code of silence” issue among the residents, there is also a lack of trust and faith in the CPD for, at least, some people.
[1] https://www.npr.org/2012/11/13/163242604/in-chicago-violence-soars-and-witnesses-go-silent
[2] https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2016/sep/10/chicagos-conundrum-more-homicides-fewer-detectives
[3] https://www.npr.org/2012/11/13/163242604/in-chicago-violence-soars-and-witnesses-go-silent
Gun shooting victims often know who shot them but will not cooperate with police officers; because of this, the perpetrators are getting away with murder. “It’s more likely that they know the shooter, it might be a member of their family, might be their cousin or grandson” says Professor Art Lurigio, psychology and criminology professor at Loyola University Chicago. Some people, like resident Joenathan Woods, believe that police “[don’t] put much effort into investigating crimes…especially if it appears to be gang-on-gang and happens in poor, black neighborhoods.”[3] From this statement, it appears that, on top of a “code of silence” issue among the residents, there is also a lack of trust and faith in the CPD for, at least, some people.
[1] https://www.npr.org/2012/11/13/163242604/in-chicago-violence-soars-and-witnesses-go-silent
[2] https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2016/sep/10/chicagos-conundrum-more-homicides-fewer-detectives
[3] https://www.npr.org/2012/11/13/163242604/in-chicago-violence-soars-and-witnesses-go-silent
issue to address #4: financial implications
Gang violence pushes businesses and financial opportunities out of these communities. Target has recently announced it will close two stores in the Chatham and Morgan Park neighborhoods[1]. With this, jobs will be lost. Furthermore, other financial impacts include “brain drain”, as the best minds would leave the neighborhoods at the first opportunity they get; additional policing which costs money; and the increased cost of caring for children who have lost their parent/s to gun violence.
[1] https://www.chicagotribune.com/business/ct-biz-target-south-side-store-closures-1108-story.htm
[1] https://www.chicagotribune.com/business/ct-biz-target-south-side-store-closures-1108-story.htm
future challenges
Before coming up with the social media campaign for my project, I wanted to recognize the potential challenges. As previously mentioned, in many communities where there is ongoing gang violence, there will be a greater probability that residents will adhere to a “code of silence”. An advertising campaign may get some pushback from community members who are fearful of retaliation.
Another challenge is the logistics and cost of monitoring social media. Facebook and Twitter are constantly being updated on a 24/7 cycle. It would be difficult to have someone monitor this medium continuously. Lastly, regarding collection of firsthand info/research, it is difficult to develop relationships and earn the trust of a gang member to gain more insight and information, given time constraints. We may have to rely on second-hand information.
Another challenge is the logistics and cost of monitoring social media. Facebook and Twitter are constantly being updated on a 24/7 cycle. It would be difficult to have someone monitor this medium continuously. Lastly, regarding collection of firsthand info/research, it is difficult to develop relationships and earn the trust of a gang member to gain more insight and information, given time constraints. We may have to rely on second-hand information.
future opportunities
Even with the above setbacks, there are some opportunities I have identified that can restore pride and a sense of ownership in these communities. First of all, we can consider tapping into various advertising and public relations agencies that are willing to provide free advertising or publicity relations for these organizations, like Arne Duncan’s CRED, BUILD Chicago, Archdiocese of Chicago, etc. Many agencies have a budget for service and giving back to the community.
Secondly, using responsible celebrity influencers, entertainers and athletes, will be effective in providing the youth with role models that they can look up to. This is especially true for single-parent families, many of which are without a father figure. Some of these Chicagoans include: President Barack Obama, Oprah, Chance the Rapper, Jennifer Hudson, Walter Payton’s children - Jarrett and Brittney, Dwayne Wade Jr., to name a few.
Thirdly, education plays a big part. By supporting organizations, like BUILD Chicago, we are able to teach the younger generations about the dangers of gang violence to try to stop the cycle.
Fourth, hire members of the community and get them involved in helping monitor social media channels on a 24/7 cycle. This would help police officers and investigators recognize warning signs of possible conflict.
Lastly, to encourage witnesses of violence to speak out, a non-traceable messaging platform that could self-erase sent messages to ensure true confidentiality should be developed. This could be set up as a challenge to tech companies and get them to be part of the solution; especially the social media companies whose platforms are being used by gangs to promote violence.
Secondly, using responsible celebrity influencers, entertainers and athletes, will be effective in providing the youth with role models that they can look up to. This is especially true for single-parent families, many of which are without a father figure. Some of these Chicagoans include: President Barack Obama, Oprah, Chance the Rapper, Jennifer Hudson, Walter Payton’s children - Jarrett and Brittney, Dwayne Wade Jr., to name a few.
Thirdly, education plays a big part. By supporting organizations, like BUILD Chicago, we are able to teach the younger generations about the dangers of gang violence to try to stop the cycle.
Fourth, hire members of the community and get them involved in helping monitor social media channels on a 24/7 cycle. This would help police officers and investigators recognize warning signs of possible conflict.
Lastly, to encourage witnesses of violence to speak out, a non-traceable messaging platform that could self-erase sent messages to ensure true confidentiality should be developed. This could be set up as a challenge to tech companies and get them to be part of the solution; especially the social media companies whose platforms are being used by gangs to promote violence.
opportunities within social media
Inasmuch as gangs have been using Facebook and Twitter in ways unintended by these social media companies, there are positive ways these platforms can be used to counter the same violence they unintentionally promote.
I recommend having a community Facebook and Twitter page for each neighborhood to post positive things going on in their communities. These can be about events, impactful people, and more. This initiative is focused on uplifting and promoting good in the community. Only positive posts should be allowed. Negative subjects should be avoided as the news media already fully cover these. I also plan to use Twitter to promote events going on in these neighborhoods and share how organizations and people are making a difference in their communities.
Some events I am hoping to promote include having a 5K Fun Run in their neighborhood to raise awareness and raise funds for organizations that help the community. In preparation for the event, residents will clean up the streets and their homes, showcasing their neighborhood as a vibrant and lively place to live. Another event would be an Art and Music Festival to promote local art, food, and culture. There will be Chicago artists, writers, singers, choirs and more. In addition, there will also be a Career Fair to provide people with skills in resume writing, interviewing, use of LinkedIn, job searching, etc. We will also need to attract companies that can sponsor and attend the Career Fairs, especially those looking to provide opportunities to minorities. Lastly, I hope to promote an HGTV “Flip or Flop” Chicago Edition Contest to help build a community’s sense of ownership. This contest will require residents of the community to come together to create a promotional video that showcases their neighborhood. The hosts of “Flip or Flop” will judge the entries and decide which neighborhood they will go into and fix their homes.
All of the proceeds from these events will go directly to aid organizations in these communities that help its residents. Lastly, it is important these events and social media platforms not be used by politicians to promote themselves for reelection and fundraising, as they will dilute the true purpose of why these were created in the first place. The proposals, as previously mentioned, are further elaborated in my creative presentation.
I recommend having a community Facebook and Twitter page for each neighborhood to post positive things going on in their communities. These can be about events, impactful people, and more. This initiative is focused on uplifting and promoting good in the community. Only positive posts should be allowed. Negative subjects should be avoided as the news media already fully cover these. I also plan to use Twitter to promote events going on in these neighborhoods and share how organizations and people are making a difference in their communities.
Some events I am hoping to promote include having a 5K Fun Run in their neighborhood to raise awareness and raise funds for organizations that help the community. In preparation for the event, residents will clean up the streets and their homes, showcasing their neighborhood as a vibrant and lively place to live. Another event would be an Art and Music Festival to promote local art, food, and culture. There will be Chicago artists, writers, singers, choirs and more. In addition, there will also be a Career Fair to provide people with skills in resume writing, interviewing, use of LinkedIn, job searching, etc. We will also need to attract companies that can sponsor and attend the Career Fairs, especially those looking to provide opportunities to minorities. Lastly, I hope to promote an HGTV “Flip or Flop” Chicago Edition Contest to help build a community’s sense of ownership. This contest will require residents of the community to come together to create a promotional video that showcases their neighborhood. The hosts of “Flip or Flop” will judge the entries and decide which neighborhood they will go into and fix their homes.
All of the proceeds from these events will go directly to aid organizations in these communities that help its residents. Lastly, it is important these events and social media platforms not be used by politicians to promote themselves for reelection and fundraising, as they will dilute the true purpose of why these were created in the first place. The proposals, as previously mentioned, are further elaborated in my creative presentation.