This transcript of proceedings held on August 26, 1989 contains insights provided by former gang leaders or influential gang members concerning their gang membership and their thoughts as to what to do about the problem of gangs. These proceedings were part of the National Youth Gang Suppression and Intervention Project (NYGSIP). Former gang members included six males, ranging in age from 27 years to 41 years, and one female, age 25 years, a University of Chicago professor, and the NYGSIP Project Director. The former gang members were chosen because they had successfully left their respective gangs and gone on to legitimate jobs or careers. Issues discussed include community involvement to prevent gang formation, gang membership as a means of creating a sense of belonging and of neighborhood, social bases for gang formation that evolve into criminal activities for financial gain, peer pressure to join gangs, parental relationships, and the influence of religion, schools, and the police on gang membership.