Minnesota teens push gang proposal to members of Congress

by Tom Crann, Minnesota Public Radio

Proposals for dealing with violent crime tend to come from official sources at arm's length from the reality on the streets. But one group of Minnesota teenagers has an unusual proposal for combating gangs, and they took it all the way to Congress.

They want to fight gang violence by educating would-be teen gang members about financial responsibility. Amber Ramsey of Woodbury High School and Sean Sullivan of St. Paul Central High School were part of last month's Youth Empowerment Summit in Washington DC.

The program, run by World Vision, a nonprofit relief organization, brought 100 teens to the nation's capital to introduce them to the political process.

While they were there, Ramsey and Sullivan presented their idea directly to both of Minnesota's U.S. senators, as well as Rep. Keith Ellison, D-Minn. MPR's Tom Crann spoke to them about the experience.

Broadcast Dates

• All Things Considered, 07/12/2007, 6:24 p.m.