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Spirit of Youth Award: 2006: Marvin Gumba
Marvin Gumba of Norfolk, Virginia is an engaging and motivated young man who, with personal strength and determination, walked away from gang life and chose to dedicate himself toward steering other youth away from gangs and violence.
Born with no arms and one leg significantly shorter than the other, Marvin's childhood involved considerable physical and social difficulties. Longing for acceptance and control, he joined a gang and was subsequently involved with the court system and later detained for violating his probation.
While incarcerated, Marvin encountered God's Ex-Gangsters, a nonprofit gang prevention organization. With the organization's support and his own personal resolve, Marvin bravely left his gang behind and forged a new career, using personal experiences and stories to reach out to other gang-involved youth and persuade them to take a different path.
Marvin is now the Community Outreach Coordinator at God's Ex-Gangsters and a role model for young people throughout his state.
See all winners of Spirit of Youth Award.
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