GAP works to create a just society to empower its youths, families, and communities to prevent them from being entrapped by the school to prison pipeline.

Our vision is to prevent young people from joining gangs, and our mission is to eliminate the base of gang membership by having a generation of young people say "no" to gangs, and "yes" to positive lifestyle choices.

My Gangfree Life® programs and services has continuously adopted the elements and best practices gathered from around the country, as evidenced by program evaluation and research. My Gangfree Life® draws its strength from the following core models:

1. The OJJDP Comprehensive Gang Model: This model, developed by the Office of Juvenile Justice and Delinquency Prevention (OJJDP), provides a comprehensive framework for addressing gang-related issues, including prevention, intervention, and suppression strategies.

2. The CDC Public Health Model and Social-Ecological Model: These models, developed by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), emphasize the importance of addressing public health issues, including violence and youth involvement in gangs, by considering multiple levels of influence, such as individual, interpersonal, community, and societal factors.

3. The Learning Organization Model (Peter Senge): This model, developed by organizational theorist Peter Senge, emphasizes the importance of fostering a culture of continuous learning, innovation, and adaptation within organizations. By applying principles from this model, My Gangfree Life® programs and services can continuously improve its programs and respond effectively to the evolving needs of its customers and communities.

By integrating these core models into its approach, GAP’s Gangfree Life® programs and services aims to provide evidence-based, comprehensive, and sustainable solutions for preventing youth involvement in gangs and promoting positive youth development in Los Angeles County and beyond.

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GAP Federal Tax ID # is 33-0322451.

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My Gangfree Life® Programs and Services:

Gangfree Life® Gang Prevention Program

Based on the Gang Resistance Is Paramount (G.R.I.P) model, GAP offers 2nd, 4th, and 6th grade classroom curriculum, which exposes both the realities of gang involvement and the alternatives available to young people. The lessons begin with discussing the history of gangs, gang dress, graffiti, and gang behaviors. Other lessons examine the consequences of gang involvement and its effects on families and their futures. The students are introduced to positive alternatives and techniques for achievement, and are encouraged to set goals and make positive lifestyle choices. Teachers and students participate in pre and post surveys to gauge learning and program outcomes.

Gangfree Life® STEP UP! Expanded Learning Programs

GAP partners with the Los Angeles Unified School District (LAUSD) and provides afterschool expanded learning programs at three LAUSD school sites. GAP Advisors provide services to students to increase their academic performance and to provide enrichment activities, such as our LIBERTY® anti-bullying program, physical education, our STEM Mobile Learning Vehicle, arts, music, dance, sports, homework completion, and tutoring assistance. The STEP UP! Program runs Mondays through Fridays from 2:30pm to 6:00pm during the school year. Advisors provide a positive and safe learning environment to students in the STEP UP! program, thereby allowing parents the comfort of knowing that their child is safe, learning and being taken care of.

Gangfree Life® LIBERTY Instant Recess® and Social Emotional Learning Program

In partnership with LA Unified Beyond the Bell, the program provides student games and activities that focus on the values of “Equal, Responsible, and True” and offers a means to guide students and staff along a path of respect, collaboration, and leadership, while reducing conflict and engendering fitness of mind, body, and spirit. This program enhance learning supports for students in Literacy and Language, Arts and Physical Fitness, Health, and Nutrition. With the principles of the evidence-based Instant Recess® as a foundation, LIBERTY revolutionizes the concept by adding verbal, culturally sensitive, collaborative, and leadership elements to its core activities. The reason for using Instant Recess® as the foundation is GAP’s long affiliation with UCLA Kaiser Permanente Center for Health Equity (formally the UCLA/RAND Prevention Research Center). Not only has GAP been partnering with the UCLA/KP for more than a decade, but several GAP staff members have been trained and certified through UCLA’s Fielding School of Public Health in the theory and application of Instant Recess®, and it has been widely adopted for use at GAP’s STEP UP! after school program, in our Gangfree Life® curriculum, and in our offices for employees. Incorporating the Institute for Learning’s Principles of Learning based on the National Staff Development Council Standards, Gangfree Life®’s LIBERTY provides a durable platform of innovation and student achievement. Lessons (or sessions) are organized on the five-step model.

My Gangfree Life®, Students with Accessible Technology, Mobile Learning Vehicle (SWAT-MLV)

In efforts to ensure that GAP youths are not left behind the technology curve, GAP provides students with a mobile computer lab at our STEP UP! Expanded learning program. The SWAT-MLV (Students With Accessible Technology-Mobile Learning Vehicle) is equipped with up to date computers, digital educational software, laser printers, and wireless compatibility. Students are given hands on engagement with fun STEM projects and activities for enrichment and learning. The SWAT-MLV rotates between sites, staying at each site for 2 weeks, provided with hands on instruction from a certified Technical Coordinator and community of schools partners.

My Gangfree Life® Family Network

The Parent Project® and Teen program offer parents and guardians an opportunity to learn effective prevention as well as intervention techniques in order to help their children through difficult times at home and in their community. Parents are given awareness of the many challenges youths are faced with every day at school, in the community and at home. GAP offers the courses in significant locations such as our GAP learning office, schools, collaborative agencies, housing authority complexes and juvenile detention facilities. GAP also provides families with volunteer opportunities and event participations.

Seasonal Youth Employment Program (SYEP)

Offers on-the-job work experience, pre-apprenticeship opportunities, teaches valuable employment and life skills, and provides local youths with an opportunity to work outside in beautification projects around the City of Los Angeles. Along with the work experience, youths are also provided educational workshops to develop career awareness, work related social skills, financial literacy, and lastly build pride in working and being part of keeping their community clean and safe.

My Gangfree Life® Academy and Professional Development

To support and uplift future leaders in our community, the Gangfree Life® Academy is a professional development program to prepare and teach My Gangfree life® classes in elementary school classrooms, community centers, after school programs, and other group settings. This certification is valid for two years unless there’s a breach of agreement, and, after signing a limited release will allow the holder to use Gangfree Life® intellectual property and teach the program locally. Recertification requirements will be sent to qualified users during their first year of practice. These requirements will include continuing education, performance metrics and evaluations. A local Gangfree Life® leader is important because it gives local control to the school/city/county/nonprofit, and builds upon the community of schools framework.

Please contact: contact@gangfree.org to inquire about gangfree life® services for your school, agency or district.

#GivingTuesday is on December 2, 2025

By gangfree.org

#GivingTuesday is on December 2, 2025

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