From gang member to a true student athlete

In today's Boston Globe, the front page has a long story that focuses on Alex DoSouto, an 18-year old Dorchester resident who said his life was changed for the better when he was shot in the leg during a fight between "Boston's most violent Cape Verdean factions." The shooting served as a reality check; one of his brothers was killed a few years ago, and Alex, who has been in and out of jail, realized that his life was quickly headed in that direction. This article exemplifies the real urban problem of gang violence in Boston, our home city. However, social programs are being put in place to assist these disadvantaged youths. Many non-profits are popping up to focus on just this problem, and there's a special effort called the Boston Scholar Athlete (BSA)program that DoSouto was able to participate in. After being out of school, he re-enrolled at English High and is now "an example of how education and sports can help divert at-risk youths from the streets." As part of the BSA program, students are assigned an academic coach that motivates and helps them succeed. Alex has become a strong student, not to mention an excellent basketball player, and the probability of him going to a Division 1 university next year is very high. He still lives in Dorchester, and sees people around him revert back to street life all the time, but he is in a different place thanks to this excellent program that helped him get on his feet and move forward in his life.

Read the detailed story here.