Module 4 The Interrupters Discussion Questions
Module 4 The Interrupters Discussion Questions
Module 4 The Interrupters Discussion Questions
The Interrupters
Nubia Ruiz
OGL: 350- Session B
Section: 41823
Dr. Kermit Brown
07/31/2023
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The Interrupters Discussion Questions
1. The Violence Interrupters leverage mediation skills, cultural knowledge, and street
credibility to gain the respect and confidence of people in conflict. Could someone
While people with mediation training and experience can be successful in conflict
resolution, I do not believe they could be successful in the streets of Chicago like the
Interrupters are. The film does an excellent job of displaying how the people in those
communities live and what they experience on a day-to-day basis. Although there is
a large amount of violence between each other, they trust people from the
community more than any trained outsider. Cobe, Ameena, and Eddie are perfect
examples of individuals that had violent pasts, served their time, and course
founder Tio Hardiman, also had a similar past and he too was also able to connect
with the community. Each of them gives hope to the youth of those communities
music and YouTube videos has become increasingly graphic and prevalent over the
last two decades. Do you think the consumption of violent imagery desensitizes
people to violence in their public and private lives? Is the entertainment industry
culture?
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It is without a doubt that media shows more violence in television and film compared
to the last couple of decades. I do not believe that there is more violence now, but
violence every day across America and tv and film should not sweep it under the rug
because it is someone's reality. The result is that viewers become desensitized, but
so are those that live it. For example, at the beginning of the film, Ameena wanted to
retaliate against one of them (James, 2011). There were several children around the
altercation that did not appear to be scared. This was disheartening because they
3. Many of the Interrupters and the people they help trace their descent into criminal
behavior at least in part to their problematic or absent relationships with their fathers.
Why do you think the father-child relationship is such a prevalent factor in this issue?
How can our communities support young people who lack positive male role
models?
The two brothers that Cobe was helping are a perfect example of individuals that are
affected by their absent father. When their mother became distant, their relationship
got even worse between each other. After Cobe stepped in to mediate, you could
see that there was hope for that family. The boys only wanted someone to show
them that they matter. I think father-child relationships are so important because
fathers provide in a special way. This is also true if a child grew up without a mother.
Both parents are needed to create a balance of love, affection, and discipline.
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4. Ameena’s confession of physical and sexual abuse shows that abused and
neglected children often fall into circumstances that lead them into crime, creating a
thin line between perpetrator and victim of violence. What would it look like to shift
our public policies and aim funding to prevent future perpetrators of violence, instead
Studies show that children of physical or sexual abuse are more likely to commit the
same crime in their adulthood. For this reason, we need more programs that provide
phycological and emotional support for victims. If we can get ahead of preventing
future abuses, we can make a great impact all over the country. For these services
similar to Cease Fire and The Interrupters (James, 2011). Unfortunately, our
government does not provide the funding required to sustain these types of
programs.
5. Eddie Bocanegra talked about the tense relationship between the police and his
community. Studies show that Latinos, both documented and undocumented, are
reluctant to report crimes for fear of exposing their immigration status, or of being
their home countries. How do these cultural factors contribute to violence in Latino
neighborhoods?
Having a language barrier largely contributes to violence not being reported in Latino
communities. Aside from being undocumented and worried about being deported,
Latinos are not aware of their rights and therefore stay silent. Naturally, this creates
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a barrier between the community and any authoritative organization. The work that
Eddie is doing through Namaste is extremely impactful because the children have a
space to express their fears (James, 2011). What people fail to remember is that
children that grow up with immigrant parents have polar opposite experiences. Many
times, this prevents them from connecting with their own parents and drives them
6. The film mentions the idea of having the National Guard come in to help Chicago
Police patrol the streets. Discuss how you feel about that Idea and why. Will the
addition of the National Guard add to the problem or help reduce the acts of
violence?
Having the National Guard come into these communities will only make matters
worse if it is the only form of support they will receive. Most of the residents do not
trust the police or other government agencies and they will only feel attacked by the
programs and new jobs, the National Guard can help the community stay safe
during the transition. To ensure this plan is successful, local leaders must support it
and be given a platform to voice their opinions on behalf of the community. I think
this type of partnership will be more successful in comparison to the National Guard
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Women are instrumental in conflict mediation. They can de-escalate tension through
listening and empathy. Women are also very capable of displaying motherly love to
those that need it, not just their biological children. For example, Ameena tried to
step in as a motherly figure for Caprysha when she really needed it. She knew that
Caprysha’s mother was abusive and absent most of her life and she needed a loving
Caprysha’s bad actions, she still made an impact that will forever stay with her.
8. For Cobe, Ameena, and Eddie, being an Interrupter is about more than just stopping
fights; it is about interrupting the status quo and making a positive difference in their
community. What does being an Interrupter mean to you? In what ways have you
After seeing the film, being an Interrupter is someone that steps in for those in need.
That may be with individuals or animals. Cobe, Ameena, and Eddie have shown the
work that goes into showing up for their community. There is no official work
schedule for them. They do what is needed at any time it is safe for them to do so. I
am nowhere near an interrupter as this group. However, I try to make time to give
problem solver and I jump in to help those around me, even if I do not know them.
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The Interrupters Community Resource Organizations Assignment
The first organization from the Interrupters resource guide that captured my interest
is the Stryve organization. This organization is backed by the Centers for Disease
Control and their mission statement is “Striving to reduce youth violence everywhere”
(CDC, 2022). Their data-driven approach is a measurable way to identify why there is
violence in communities and how to prevent it. As mentioned on their website, people
should be able to enjoy their community parks, spend time outdoors, and provide a safe
Stryve works in partnership with public health programs, police, and schools to
identify violence prevention gaps. By agreeing on the main problems that affect the
community, they are more effective in combating them. They put together a prevention
approach that focuses on a specific problem. I think by reducing the scope of their work,
Stryve has more chances of being successful with quick wins. When you plan
something at a larger scale, it can take too much time to actually execute it.
The Stryve website is an excellent tool for someone that wishes to get involved
with their community without having much experience. They have tools to help you
narrow down your purpose and how to leverage community data. Stryve also
emphasizes the importance of becoming involved by asking basic questions first and
three main focuses are selecting a strategy that works for your goal, determining what
steps are required to action it, and how to track the outcome of your work. I think most
people wish to give back in one way or another but they have a hard time getting
started.
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Violence prevention programs emphasize the likelihood of children with
incarcerated parents and following into their footsteps. The U.S. Dream Academy
focuses on those children and creates programs to prevent the same outcome. Their
mission is “To inspire and invest in the lives of children of incarcerated parents and
This organization provides afterschool and mentoring programs nationwide. They also
Wintley Phipps, the founder of U.S. Dream Academy, performed gospel music for
inmates and their visiting relatives. He was touched by the expressions on their families'
faces and realized that they too were likely to become incarcerated. This inspired him to
create the U.S. Dream Academy. Phipps is a powerful story of someone who not only
shared his talent with those in prison but also took action to help those affected by their
circumstances. He clearly sees the parental gap in children's lives when they are
The work of the U.S. Dream Academy has impacted over 10,000 children in 10
cities nationwide (US Dream Academy, 2023). I really like this program because the
staff spends 10 to 15 hours a week with the students. There are many organizations
that are similar to this one but only have the resources to meet with students a couple of
hours a week. By creating robust programs, the children must feel special and immerse
themselves in the program lot more. I hope this program is successful for the next
decade to come.
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References
CDC (2022, May 7). Stryve Veto Violence. Violence Prevention. Retrieved July 28,
2023, from https://vetoviolence.cdc.gov/apps/stryve/
US Dream Academy (2023). A Child With A Dream Is A Child With A Future. Retrieved
July 28, 2023, from https://www.usdreamacademy.org/