Chargers help warn youth of dangers of gangs

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Thursday, Mar 13, 2008
By Casey Pearce, Chargers.com

Positive Gentlemen Founder Thomas Smith and Vice President Mike Tagwerker know that the message their group brings when they speak to young people makes an impact, but having the Chargers along for support gives it even more meaning.

“It’s huge because of the way kids relate to these sports icons,” Tagwerker said. “With their support, it makes the message even more profound.”

Earlier this week, Chargers linebacker Stephen Cooper and defensive ends Jacques Cesaire and Andre Coleman joined Positive Gentlemen, a group of former gang members, and the San Diego Sheriff’s Department at the Boys & Girls Club of Vista to warn roughly 200 youth about the dangers of getting involved in gang activity.

“It’s always fun to get a chance to be around a lot of kids, but when you get to share such a strong and positive message, that makes it special,” Cooper said. “I had kids come up after the program and ask some great questions about some of the things I said. That lets you know they were listening.”

The group included kids ranging from six years old through teenagers. In addition to the three Chargers players, Tagwerker and three former gang members bluntly spoke about the consequences of getting involved with gangs. The presentation included a graphic video of the violent life in gangs.

“It was harsh but it was true,” Cesaire said. “They didn’t sugarcoat it.”

The shock value plays an important role in the message Positive Gentlemen deliver.

“So many kids grow up around a violent culture and can relate to the stories these guys have,” Tagwerker said. “It’s great for them to see Positive Gentleman and hear them say, ‘This is not the way to go.’”

Tagwerker is a teacher at a San Diego middle school and co-founded Positive Gentlemen with Thomas Smith, the father of one of Tagwerker’s students. Smith is a native of South Central Los Angeles and a former gang member who spent 20 years in prison. He’s now dedicated to helping young people.

“Pro football players, after they took their uniforms off, I thought they were gang bangers,” Smith told the group. “I thought everyone was involved in gangs. That’s not true. You have the opportunity to make good choices.”

Smith works for the McAlister Institute for Treatment and Education, a program that helps rehabilitate young drug addicts. As part of the program, Smith’s teens join several Chargers staff members and players as they feed the homeless in downtown San Diego each Thursday. That’s how the Chargers became affiliated with Positive Gentlemen.

After the presentation, Cooper, Coleman and Cesaire signed autographs and mingled with the students for roughly an hour. They believe it was time well spent.

“These kids need to see people who are successful, people who make good choices and get to accomplish their goals,” said Chargers Director of Security/Player Outreach Dick Lewis. “We hope this is the first of many events we get to do with Positive Gentlemen.”

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