Home Devon ThompsonDevon JonesPrograms SponsorsContact Us

About YAAACE

Background Information:

Consequently Y.A.A.A.C.E.’s mandate is to create a culture of academics, social and civil responsibility among all its members while at the same time implementing the viable infrastructure that will bridge the great divide between the polarized youth in our community. A large number of youth communicated that they felt pressured to further facilitate the gang subculture by their peers who had existing gang affiliation; older gang members; the environment; which fosters and promotes division based on geographic locations in an attempt to forge alliance and ultimately a security network.

The reality is that young men in Jane and Finch and other polarized community (most often young black males) are automatically immersed in the ongoing conflict based on residence. Young men are usually caught between a rock and a hard place. People from the other neighbourhoods are well aware of their place of residence consequently they automatically become targets. If by any chance they choose not to represent their neighbourhoods or their colours they are not allotted the security network that gang affiliation provides. Consequently they are forced to affiliate with young men from their respective neighbourhood in an attempt to forge alliances and ultimately a safety network or their safety and well being are compromised.

Since 1995 a series of homicides and attempted homicides further escalated tensions and divisions between the youth in our community. The unfortunate reality today is that a large number of students North of Finch “up top” consider themselves “Cripps (blue)” and large numbers of students South of Finch, “down bottom” consider themselves “Bloods (red)”. Young people in the neighbourhoods on the North side of Finch: Brookview, Shoreham, Gosford, Driftwood and a building at San Romanoway, are considered Cripps’ jurisdiction. Young People in the neighbourhoods South of Finch: Oakdale, Connections, Palisades/ San Romanoway-1 building and Lane are considered Bloods’ jurisdiction. Based on the rules of the gang subculture the youths are restricted from travelling freely outside their area of residence. Consequently Students who resides in the Oakdale, Connections, Palisades/ San Romanoway-1 building, Lane (neighbourhoods South of Finch) are restricted from traveling freely to Brookview, Driftwood, Gosford, Shoreham, Palisades/San Romanoway-1 building (neighbourhoods North of Finch) and vice versa. A large number of the youth in our program are extremely uncomfortable traveling outside their neighbourhood of residence in the Jane Finch community. The fact is although the youth are safe among themselves they feel as though their safety could be compromised by other young people outside the program. The rule is clear: stay in your neighbourhood and in your space. read more