TRU Colors with gang member “Blanco”, one of the leaders of an innovative project to reduce inner city gun violence in Wilmington, NC.
On this episode of The Adrenaline Zone, hosts James “Sandy” Winnefeld and Sandra Magnus are joined by gang member “Blanco”, one of the leaders of an innovative project to reduce inner city gun violence in Wilmington, NC.
Blanco grew up in Wilmington, North Carolina, in a neighborhood that didn’t offer much in the way of economic opportunity. Like many of his peers, Blanco saw gang initiation as the most viable path towards community, safety, and opportunity. He became involved with a gang by the time he was a teenager.
One day, out of the blue, Blanco got a phone call from a man looking to start a brewery. He wanted to employ Blanco, as well as several members of rival gangs. The risks running through Blanco’s mind were numerous. Could this be a police setup? Was he going to be arrested? Even if this was legitimate, was it really safe to work side by side with members of rival organizations?
Despite the obvious risk, Blanco accepted the offer. Through his work at TRU Colors, Blanco is opening new opportunities for success for future generations—giving them a better chance for success than was previously possible in disenfranchised communities.
Resources:
TRUColors - LinkedIn
TRUColors - Instagram
Sandra Magnus - Twitter
This episode is sponsored by Dunkin’.
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