Manhood is defined by most cultures as the ability to protect and provide for one's family, but gang members define manhood as gaining "respect" through intimidation, scoring with girls by deceit, and having babies any way they can. Hope Now teaches young men that all it takes to become a father is sperm, but it takes a lifetime to be a dad. Since most of them never had a dad, we have to help them fill in the gaps. It's hard to be a parent if you have not been adequately parented, so Hope Now does a great deal of (re)parenting. Our older staff members model what a good father does, protecting and providing for each youth. When Vocational Placement Counselor Eddie Ochoa started as a youth in our program, he told us, "You're the first ones to teach me right from wrong." That's what a good father does...

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