Street Soldiers: violence prevention over the airwaves, a phenomenon

Problems common to inner-city youths such as truancy, drug use, teen pregnancy, and the possession of weapons often consign them to a bleak future, one bereft of opportunities. Violence, therefore, becomes a means of survival. To break the cycle of violence among inner-city youth, it is essential to overcome the negative behaviors that give rise to this violence. The Omega Boys Club of San Francisco is founded on the notion of the extended family, and provides the active support and emotional guidance once found in the home and immediate community. Through a three-tiered program of change, the club has developed a plan to help stop the violence. This has been extended beyond the Bay Area via a radio call-in show called Street Soldiers, in which discussions focus on violence in the home and on the streets.