Hearts and Hands: Creating Community in Violent Times

by Luis J. Rodríguez

Hearts and Hands deals with many of the difficult issues addressed in Luis Rodríguez’s memoir of gang life, Always Running, but with a focus on healing through community building. Empowered by his experiences as a peacemaker with gangs in Los Angeles and Chicago, Rodríguez offers a unique book of change. He makes concrete suggestions, shows how we can create nonviolent opportunities for youth today, and redirects kids into productive and satisfying lives. And he warns that we sacrifice community values for material gain when we incarcerate or marginalize people already on the edge of society. His interest in dissolving gang influence on black and latino kids is personal as well as societal; his son, to whom he dedicates Hearts and Hands, is currently serving a prison sentence for gang-related activity. With anecdotes, interviews, and time-tested guidelines, Hearts and Hands makes a powerful argument for building and supporting community life.

Genres: Nonfiction

368 pages, Paperback

First published March 1, 2001

About the author

Luis J. Rodríguez (b. 1954) is a poet, journalist, memoirist, and author of children’s books, short stories, and novels. His documentation of urban and Mexican immigrant life has made him one of the most prominent Chicano literary voices in the United States. Born in El Paso, Texas, to Mexican immigrant parents, Rodríguez grew up in Los Angeles, where in his teen years he joined a gang, lived on the streets, and became addicted to heroin. In his twenties, after turning his back on gang violence and drugs, Rodríguez began his career as a journalist and then award-winning poet, writing such books as the memoir Always Running (1993), and the poetry collections The Concrete River (1991), Poems Across the Pavement (1989), and Trochemoche (1998). He has also written the short story collection The Republic of East L.A. (2002). Rodríguez maintains an arts center, bookstore, and poetry press in L.A., where he continues writing and working to mediate gang violence.

Reviews

[Laurel · Rating 3 out of 5]

I found the content of this book relevant today even though the book was published about sixteen years ago. How does one create community among violence? What would happen if prisons helped heal, not incarcerate? These are among some of the questions Rodriguez answers to form the content of his book. For anyone who wants to learn more about youth, gangs, and their effects on community, this is your book.

[Dustin Mailman · Rating 5 out of 5]

Sobering, poetic, and precise. This is my favorite read of the year so far. Drawing from the deep wells of personal experience, youth worker expertise, and the spiritual imagination of Malidoma Patrice Some (among many others), Rodriguez offers a vision of trauma informed community building like I’ve never experienced before. I’ve yet to find a book that is equal parts practical, mystical, and lived experience centric. Must read for anyone who wants to envision a better world.

[Marco Ambriz · Rating 4 out of 5]

Powerful stories of hope, resilience and community despite the pains of violence, racism, incarceration, unjust laws and the general fear of our American youth. Much of this book is Luis Rodriquez sharing hundreds of ideas of how he and others organized community responses to youth violence, incarceration, education and family through poetry art business opportunities and solidarity. At some points the stories of Luis's activities and initiatives with youth and community over a span of 30 years in Chicago and LA are so many that they get redundant. It almost seems like he's attempting to list every single event he's been a part of. But there are gems in this book on the topics of leadership, hope, youth, family, people of color, youth incarceration, Latin American immigration and authentic community.

[cubbie · Rating 4 out of 5]

compelling, interesting, insightful, lovely. full of wonderful things, and also very sad. but in the end, full of hope and inspiration.

could not follow the organizational structure of the book, but that might just be where i am right now-- maybe it's not a book to read intermittently on the bus.

[Mikki Ibarra · Rating 5 out of 5]

Fantastic book from Goodreads sweepstakes. I don't usually like these types of books, talking about a terrible past, life and celebration of making it out...in this case, more of the book is how to make things better in the community. Many of the ideas are not new or fresh but they work. I'm definitely suggesting this book to everyone.

[Lori Lorinda · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book was a great for me to read at the time I did. This book got me thinking a lot about what spiritual creatures we are and what happens in our youth when we aren't offered supportive spaces to explode into our amazing selves.

[Jill]

You have got to read this one... just finished it on the way back from Japan... it was powerful! Chicago - poetry - thug life... what more could one ask for? It deals with our current leadership and how they demonize individuals for their associations... it is about power.

[Malena · Rating 3 out of 5]

The author, Luis Rodriguez is a former gang member who has started organizations that work with youth in Chicago and LA. He talks about his experiences and ways that we can approach the violence facing youth today.

[Ashley · Rating 3 out of 5]

Thorough, practical guide to creating community in the midst of chaotic times. Rodriguez is an accessible personable writer.

[Laura Taylor]

Luis Rodriguez has really wonderful analysis of what youth-led social change looks like/should look like

[Scott · Rating 5 out of 5]

poetry helps with coping

[Brenda_13 · Rating 4 out of 5]

really good book...

[Brittnie Merritt · Rating 5 out of 5]

very inspirational.... There is hope in all of us no matter what we have done or where we come from. Makes you want to get out there and do something...

[Andrew · Rating 3 out of 5]

I wish the book focused on more in-depth explorations of stories and themes. No arguments with the ideas, but it was very repetitive and superficial.