For their parents, it provides counseling and support. Racine is a metropolitan area of 130,000 people with 85,000 living within the city limits. The City's location along Interstate 94, the corridor between Chicago and Milwaukee, makes it highly accessible to crime and gang infiltration, especially by the Gangster Disciples, Vice Lords and Latin Kings from Chicago. In the summer of 1996 there were six gang-related killings. Structure is often lacking in the home, either because the parent is working or is using drugs.
Many youth have older siblings who are gang members.
Youth are referred to the program by Racine Unified School District counselors and social workers, the police department and other human service agencies. From the program's beginning in 1993, children were aware of its purpose. In fact, when the program started, some with gang connections came wearing pagers. As a group, however, they objected to the original name, Gang Diversion Program, and chose the name Victory in Peace. All VIP participants live in Racine's inner city.