Episode #27 - "I GREW UP ON 21ST STREET THE WORST STREET" LBC CRIP GANG MEMBER "BLUE" A SOLDIER, WARRIOR & MENTOR

Dog In The Yard

He grew up in Long Beach and despite being bused to Texas every summer by his mom to get him away from the gangbanger life, Blue was having run ins with the law by age 12. He ended up doing time at each level of California's local and state judicial system. Going from Youth Detention Centers to Juvenile Camps to YTS (aka Gladiator school) and finally Solano State Prison, was like going from elementary, to middle, then high school and eventually ending up in the University. He never forgot his LBC and Crip roots. While locked up Blue dealt with the worst situations whether it was holding down the yard or having to deal with his close friend breaking the Crip code and stabbing him. Blues time in the hole actually helped turn his life around as he had to deal with all gang types and ethnic backgrounds. After getting out he had to deal with his daughter get into gang banging and his niece be murdered. This set him up for when he got out and started giving back and helping those from LBC learning to stay away from gang banging and out of jail. He eventually was hired by prestigious Long Beach Poly high school to help coach football. This built many deep and long term bonds with young men and their families many of which went on to play Division I football and even the NFL. Blue's new reputation landed him a new role where he's helping many organizations like USC, USD to the LAPD on how to help understand how help the youth from the inner cities and help the people in those neighborhoods to use the resources available to help themselves.Blue believes current prison reform initiatives continue to fail because they don't address the problem. These programs are more important than ever and he is dedicated to helping make the changes needed to provide a second chance..