Street Soldiers

Click on The image for a larger poster with Portuguese Translation

“Street Soldiers: Uniting to Rebuild Our Community One Block at a Time”

Boston film premiere spotlights The Young Men from Upham’s Corner trying to change they’re lives and community for the better.

Mario arrived in Dorchester from Cape Verde in 1981. Ever since, he has been around gangs and violence. At first, it was Cape Verdeans against African American and Latino gangs. Something as simple as going to school without an altercation became impossible. Then crack entered the inner city and the streets turned into a concrete battlefield, fueling the creation of the first Cape Verdean gang (C.V.P) in Boston. Mario wanted to follow in their footsteps. In his early teens, along with several others, Mario helped create another gang, comprised mostly Cape Verdeans but also including African Americans, Jamaicans, Latinos, Haitians, and Asians.
Then the day came when one Cape Verdean was accused of murdering another. Both were friends of Mario. Now friends started choosing sides and the violence escalated. More friends were lost to prison, homicides, and deportations. There seemed to be no end to the retaliation—and the pain. Gang members fought continuously and yet many grew tired of the violence and destruction. But no one could seem to see a way out. Then Ernesto Monell, Mario’s longtime friend and gang associate—and the murder of Claudio Cardoso, another friend—convinced him it was time to bring people together and start talking.

Today Mario prays for forgiveness and for the support of the community. This film is not only about Mario’s life but the lives of many inner city children, not only about gangs but victims, not only about Cape Verdeans but numerous other nationalities. The film is also about the efforts of many young men to rebuild their community—the very same young men who once were destroying it.

For more information or to purchase tickets for the viewing please call 617-593-5974.
A portion of the proceeds will go towards Survivors Programs and the Floorlords Youth Program.