Doing something positive about youth gangs will require hard work, attitude change, and enlisting the help of many people. In addition to the many obvious causes of gangs, there are less well-known factors, such as academic achievement, that are related to youth participation in gangs. Participation in extracurricular activities helps young people resist the lure of gangs. It is obvious that communities must provide safe neighborhoods, and it is also apparent that any program that does not receive wide neighborhood support will not be effective in opposing gangs. Even in an active and mobilized neighborhood, the forces that support gangs can be overwhelming, especially those related to the economics of illegal drugs. Addressing the drug problem and providing other economic opportunities for youth are essential to overcoming gangs. It is important to mobilize existing strengths in the community, such as that of churches, to create hope and community solidarity. (SLD)