Latina Gang Problems in Portland? Get Laura Bush!

As some of us may remember, the President and Mrs. Laura Bush on March 8, 2005, highlighted the need to volunteer to help children and teens reach their full potential. Well I think the time for Mrs. Laura Bush to volunteer to help children is now! I am sure if any troubled kids were to meet Laura they would turn back in their ways, renounce all gang activities, and become productive members of society.

That is what we need in the greater Portland area, where gangs are becoming so cool that even girls are starting to “do it.” This is a problem that needs to be looked into, thankfully The O, has done some research on this subject.

Rebecca, a Milwaukie-area teenager who declined to give her last name, said she joined Latin Babes, one of the largest Latina gangs in the area, for protection after getting involved in several fights.
She said Latin Babes has about 35 members in Milwaukie, who range in age from 13 to 18.
"We tag," she said, using a slang term for graffiti. "If we see girls we don't like, we'll jump them and take their stuff. We get into trouble. Basically, all we do is go party."

I know in my school in St.Helens, tagging was to be taught inside the classroom rather than outside. Seriously, the alternative school taught tagging as an elective! However, the Portland area schools are trying to do something more productive. They are trying to create punishments that keep kids in school, rather than out of school suspension.

These kids just need a place to belong, and I think that if anyone could help these kids belong, it would be our First Lady. Maybe she could unite these kids behind something positive, instead of tagging, they could garden or adopt a highway (I do not think the “Latin Babes” sign would get torn down). And there is nothing that joining a chess club couldn’t solve. These kids need direction. Who do you think would be the best director? Maybe a former educator, librarian, and all around America Youth helping go getter!

If you can hear our cries Mrs. Laura Bush, Please come and help our teens!