All five had been shot at least once. All but one had been imprisoned at some point. Now, they said, they try to keep their lives in order. Most are raising children and trying to prevent those children from making the same mistakes they did. They agreed that after-school programs and sports and keeping children busy and off the street was the best way to prevent them from joining a gang.
Love is important too.
But ultimately, those streets are unloving, and too few learn that in time, or are lucky enough to survive it, they agreed. Time passes just like this and there's a whole generation of brothers I was with, they're either in jail or dead. But, for now, these men work to keep their lives on the right track and help their families. It's not just about me, it's about my kids. Tomes and Fogarty founded Brothers and Sisters of Love, an organization dedicated to gang ministry.