How to keep your kid from joining a gang?

From my experiences with Dean, parents have asked me what I would do differently, and how can they make sure that their son will stay away from gangs.   I think about that frequently.
 I think that most surefire way to keep them away from gangs is to enroll them in private school from 6th grade and on. It is worth it to sacrifice financially for this.  Once, they go off to college, the gang threat disappears. Of course wild partying does not. 
If however, you cannot afford this at all, then as a parent, you must be very vigilante and involved. Make sure your son has sports or other school activities that he is involved in.  Hire tutors if his grades are poor. (many Boys and Girls Clubs have free help with homework).  If he needs to be with friends, have them over to your house and keep a watch over them. If any of his friends get into criminal trouble, make sure that friend is banned from his social life.  I was  too kind and forgiving about this, thinking that teenagers will learn after getting in trouble.(only a small few do)
 Do not let them roam with friends at night. Know their plans and check up on them.  It is better to let the friends hang out at your place, than roam.  If your son starts dressing like a hood, tell him that he looks like a criminal and that will get police attention.  Make him change his clothes. 
 Talk to your sons about the pitfalls of gangs.  Make them read true stories of gang members whose lives were ruined. Also have them read wrongful conviction stories and stories of police corruption, so they know that they will probably not get a fair trial. 
 Give them a faith based home, and love and acceptance.  Spend quality time with them, especially the fathers.  It really is hit and miss for parents if their children go to public middle schools and high schools, and if they are not paying attention to changes in their child. 
 I also think getting your child involved in community charities is mandatory. They need to know that they can make a difference in a positive way.  I did a lot of charity work, but never involved Dean in it.  I wish I had.  Andrea however, did do community service things.
  Dean cared way too much about being cool, and getting away from bullies.  The gang was there to fulfill that need.  I never realized until too late how much he had changed from the honest sweet kid that he started out as.  I never knew that he had been bullied or threatened. 
 His life now is not how it should be, but I have faith that his next one will be.
I do not have any answers on how to keep your kid from doing drugs though.  They are either attracted to it or not. Most who do, are self medicating for various reasons.  All a parent can do is educate them on drugs, and set a good example themselves.  One child of mine did drugs, and the other never even smoked a cigarette.  There are pitfalls everywhere on the path of young adulthood.