A former gang member turned youth advocate will sharing their story at a free drop-in event on gang education and prevention in Maple Ridge this weekend.
Jordan Buna, according to his LinkedIn account, he has conducted presentations across the B.C. and Canada on the topic of youth gangs and he has done one-on-one work for the Combined Forces Special Enforcement Unit of B.C., the RCMP, and the Vancovuer Police Department, on anti-gang strategies.
He has also hosted talks with the End Gang Life program, which is an in-school gang prevention, education, and youth engagement presentation.
Buna previously worked for the Surrey School District's Wraparound Program, which provided prevention and intervention strategies to help youth remove themselves from negative peer groups and gang involvement.
Now he also works with Safer Schools Together, delivering training sessions through Gang Reduction Through Informed Practice, or GRIP, throughout the province.
"Gang life seemed like such an easy way to make lots of money and have everything I wanted. Instead it robbed me of so many opportunities and exposed me to horrifying scenes that I will never forget," said Buna in 2015.
"Even though I was lucky and got out, being part of a gang was a death sentence for most of the people I knew. That is the reality of gang life.”
The event in Maple Ridge is geared towards youth aged 13 to 18, where they will hear Buna share the hard truths of gang life and how to steer clear of it.
Participants will gain insights into: the realities of gang life, including its impact on family and future opportunities; learn how gangs target youth through manipulation, peer pressure, and social media; understand the impact of trauma and how it can feed a cycle of poor mental health and substance use outcomes; see how small decisions can lead to significant life changes; and learn about the erase anonymous online report it tool and how it can contribute to promoting individual and collective safety in schools.
It will be taking place from 4:30-5:30 p.m. on Monday, June 16, at the Greg Moore Youth Centre at 11925 Haney Place, Maple Ridge.
Pizza will be provided.
For more information about End Gang Life go to: https://endganglife.ca/.
