Barbara and My Boys: Life Stories of Change Community and Purpose.

This book tells the story of five interventionists who work the streets of some of Los Angeles toughest neighborhoods. It articulates who they were and how they got to be who they are now. Each story has similarities and differences but each provides a close-up of a life most of us only see through the lens of Hollywood fantasy. This book is the reality behind that fantasy. It gives credit for the hard dangerous and usually unsung work each of these individuals do. This book utilizes data gathered over six months of following interventionist teams to show how their work assisted in instilling safety on the streets with qualitative and quantitative data. Crime reduction is discussed using data gathered along with narrative examples. The book will show how community intervention reduces street violence and assists with community policing efforts.