The Need

The Unusual Suspects works with low-income, underserved communities in Los Angeles County where poverty, unemployment, poor education, and gang violence plague the future of its youth. With limited social support and enrichment opportunities, youth in these areas are extremely susceptible to gang involvement and criminal activity.

• Los Angeles County is the epicenter of gang activity and violence nationwide, with more than 1,400 criminal street gangs.
• Children exposed to violence, either as victims or witnesses, are more likely to become juvenile and adult offenders.
• In the Los Angeles Unified School District, the high-school dropout rate is nearly 40%.
• It costs California taxpayers $11,000 per year to educate one youth, while it costs them more than $90,000 per year to incarcerate one youth in the state corrections system.

Local youth need positive alternatives to the streets, including after-school enrichment programs like those provided by The Unusual Suspects, which have been proven to reduce juvenile crime and gang involvement.

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THE UNUSUAL SUSPECTS THEATRE COMPANY | ALL RIGHTS RESERVED 2009,2010,2011
617 S. Olive Street, Suite 812 | Los Angeles, CA 90014 | Tel: 213.488.8488  Fax: 213.488.8498 | admin@theunusualsuspects.org