Name: Mike Rivera

Read article about Mike and how he's doing in Iraq

FROM STREET COMBAT TO MILITARY COMBAT

Former gang member, Mike Rivera, 19, from Brooklyn, New York, became a member of KR3TS in 2003, when he was 17. His ex-girlfriend who was already a member of KR3TS, brought him to dance rehearsal one day and because of his natural love of dance, as well as the unity he sensed within the group, he couldn’t resist joining the company.
But Violet recalls his once uncertain future. “One day at rehearsal, I noticed that he had some beads on that represented a “notorious” gang and I confronted him. He admitted to being a member of that gang and I told him he was going to have to leave the gang and if not, leave KR3TS. It was one or the other.”

Violet warned the young gang member the danger he was putting KR3TS, his family and everyone else around him in because of his poor choice. Mike understood and didn’t want to leave KR3TS but explained to Violet that once you become a member of that organization—there’s no turning back, it’s a commitment, and leaving the gang normally results in death.

“I felt helpless,” Mike confessed.

Violet felt Mike’s sincerity and saw the situation as if it was one of her children in harms way. “I couldn’t turn my back on him,” Violet says. That’s when Violet and her former partner held a meeting with the gang leaders and miraculously Mike was allowed to leave the treacherous organization unharmed.

Currently stationed in San Diego, California, Mike has been selected to fight the war on terror and will departing for Iraq in January of 2006. While most fear him going to the war zone, Mike says, “those Iraqis need help and I’m proud to be able to help give people the opportunity at a new life, just like the way Violet [Director of KR3TS] did for me. Even though I’m not an active member of KR3TS, I will always be part of KR3TS. The company is my family and I will always visit and stay in touch. I’ll never forget what KR3TS has done for me.”

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