ACTION-RESEARCH WITH THE LATIN KING ASSOCIATION IN MADRID: ON THE POSSIBILITIES AND LIMITS OF AN ALTERNATIVE STRATEGY WITH CONFLICTIVE YOUTH GROUPS

This work presents a long term participatory action research conducted among the group of Latin Kings in Madrid, Spain. The project started up from a demand of the group itself, andbegan with a participatory analysis of the group status and needs. The researchers agreed with the members to perform a set of actions oriented to reinforce the positive aspects of the group dynamics, to develop resources for social reinsertion and support, to reduce the violent behavior, to connect the group with institutional and social networks and to advance in the social recognition of the group as a legitimized social actor. The project focused particularly tothe actions performed on the meeting spaces of the group, as well as its communication channels. These actions included several strategies on the individual, group, community and socio-institutional level. During the process, the group adopted pro-social norms on itsdiscourses and dynamics. It also developed strategies of self restriction to affront of potentialconflicts and became a positive social actor. However it was not achieved the political and institutional support, needed for an open development without the police intervention. This aspect made it difficult to obtain resources to consolidated objectives and to reinforce social efforts in the members of the association.