The tragic youth violence in Chicago and other cities around the U.S. has left me wondering why the social fabric of our country continues to be so damaged.  From my conversations with community leaders and families across Boston’s most vulnerable neighborhoods and work with urban healthcare and school systems, I offer below my thoughts on the key drivers of youth violence in our cities.  While I highlight a variety of issues, I believe strongly that low quality public education is not only one of the strongest drivers of youth violence but also one of the greatest social challenges of our time (especially because it sits at the center of a vicious cycle that perpetuates social inequality).

Broken homes

• Single parent homes often at or below the poverty level.
• Lack of educational attainment.
• Lack of jobs.
• Children being born out of wedlock.
• Incarceration rates among minorities – in 2006, for example, blacks were disproportionately overrepresented in nearly every major arrest category: murder 59%, forcible rape 34%, robbery 67%, aggravated assault 42%, simple assault 39%). For reference, blacks make up 17% of the juvenile population in the U.S.

Lack of competitive public education and enrichment programs

• Lack of quality education and enrichment opportunities from day one (preschool, arts/cultural programs, sports, etc.).  When I was working on increasing physical activity opportunities for Boston youth, I had the privilege of partnering with innovative organizations, such as the Center for the Study of Sport in Society (CSSS).  CSSS’s comprehensive research has revealed that inner city children have disproportionately fewer sports/after school opportunities than their suburban peers.
• Impediments to reinventing public education (e.g., teachers unions, anti-charter school sentiment, attracting top teachers, compensation, etc).
• Lack of funding and infrastructure to support a longer school day.
• Prejudice against those who excel academically.
• Children from low-income families are 5-6 times as likely to drop out of school than youth from high-income families.  The juvenile minority population is also expected to experience the most growth over the next five years, which underscores the importance of acting now.

Lack of role models and positive examples

• It’s time to face the music – the majority of music, movies, television programs, and internet content consumed by minors is not what most would consider “educational” or “enriching”.  In fact, much of this content depicts violence and drug use as cool and sexy.
• A culture and tradition of achievement is lacking.
• Minority children are more likely to see their father in jail, to be raised in broken homes, to grow up at or near the poverty level, to be exposed to gangs – in many ways, the writing is on the wall.

Culture of fear and intimidation

• According to U.S. Attorney General, Eric Holder, more than 60% of U.S. children were exposed to violence in the past year.  Groundbreaking work by Boston Medical Center Pediatrics (Child Witness to Violence Project) and others provides ample evidence that children who are witness to violence are more likely to experience developmental and social challenges later in life. Children who are exposed to violence regularly are much more likely to resolve conflict through violence.

Inaccessible healthcare

• Because inner-city families have a harder time accessing healthcare (e.g., insurance, transportation, working multiple jobs, etc) and are more likely to skip appointments, pediatricians and other health professionals are unable to intervene early-on (e.g., identify risk factors including emotional disorders, anti-social behavior, aggression, academics, family dynamics, drug abuse, carrying weapons, gang involvement, exposure to violence, etc).

Lack of affordable housing

• Families in inner-city America face inordinate difficulty purchasing, renting, and renovating safe, livable housing. I have met too many families in inner-city Boston who have to choose between food, shelter, clothing, savings, and healthcare on a daily basis – this shouldn’t be the case in the United States.

The built environment

• Lack of open play space, walkable areas, bike paths, etc.
• Parents don’t want their kids playing in the streets because of safety concerns (e.g., violence and traffic).
• Transportation challenges (trains/subways, buses, taxis, bikes, etc).

Drug abuse among youth

• Vulnerable children are more likely to succumb to drug use pressures because of social pressure, media pressure, and seeing family members and friends abuse drugs.  These children may also be abusing drugs as a way to cope with reality. Drug abuse is also associated with firearm and weapon possession – a drug trafficker can’t settle a dispute in court for obvious reasons so the logical alternative is violence and/or intimidation.  In the absence of effective parenting, positive role models, community development, quality education, and access to healthcare, among others, it is hard to imagine that we will be able to address this issue in a meaningful, sustainable way.
• I am always taken aback by the number of liquor stores per square mile when driving through inner-city Boston.  I don’t believe you will find as many liquor stores in most suburban communities. What does this say about community development/redevelopment priorities?

Loose gun and weapon control

• While I would be the first to concede that this issue is far deeper than simply firearm and weapon ownership, youth firearm and weapon possession is without a doubt part of the problem. I think one can reasonably assert that putting weapons in the hands of distraught youth, who are likely not equipped with sound judgment/decision making capacity and in some cases living in downright abject conditions, is a terrible idea and one that is likely to end in tragedy.  Regardless of your political persuasion and interpretation of the 2^nd Amendment, I think we can agree that there is no place for weapons in the hands of children.

Who bears responsibility?  In my assessment, we all do.  Just because youth violence may not be an issue in my immediate backyard does not absolve me of my fundamental obligation as a citizen to improve and safeguard our society.  What will it take to overcome these challenges?  Is it more effective leadership at the national, state, and municipal levels? Better parenting? More policing? Increased community engagement and coordination (e.g., parents, schools, police/fire departments, elected officials, non-profits, faith-based organizations, healthcare institutions, academic institutions, sports teams, businesses, etc)? Increased personal responsibility? Better public education? Or is it a matter of social will?  I would argue that it’s a combination of all of the above.

This is the United States of America, not an uncivilized nation.  Children are being robbed of a childhood and our country of its future.  If we have the courage to stand up for human rights around the globe, the ability to wage two wars, and the sophistication to fire rockets at the moon, then I am absolutely certain that we have the capacity to address urgent domestic issues such as youth violence.  If we are unable to tackle these challenges at their roots, then what does this say about our nation’s character?