Ep. 12: Eddie Bocanegra of READI Chicago

Eddie Bocanegra of READI Chicago -- saving lives that would likely otherwise be lost to gun violence or prison.
Overcoming a youth filled with violence and the trauma of violence, and after serving 14 years in prison for a gang-related murder committed at age 18, he is now driven by a sense of duty - a covenant sense of mission - to prevent violence.
With a master’s degree in social work, he serves as Senior Director of the READI Chicago program of Heartland Alliance.
In combination with the University of Chicago Crime Lab, the READI program uses a combination of cognitive behavior intervention services and paid transitional employment as interventions to proactively help people most at risk to be victims or perpetrators of street violence - over a third of whom have been shot in the past - to create space between impulse and action and to help them channel their actions into constructive, non-violent responses to stress and invest their hope in a viable path to lawful, gainful employment.
It works.
In this conversation with Justice Voices host David Risley, Mr. Bocanegra shares why he joined a street gang, primarily for the same reasons he says most other young teenagers join gangs: protection, desire to get ahead in life, identity formation, sense of belonging, and respect.
After sharing his personal story of tragedy and redemption, he describes how READI Chicago identifies people most at risk for gun violence and intervenes to prevent those outcomes.
For the full conversation, go to the Justice Voices website at justicevoices.org or follow on any major podcast player.
For video excerpts. go to our Justice Voices KZbin channel.