REPRESENTATIVE SLAUGHTER, AND JOLAUNDA FIELDS, THANK YOU SO MUCH.

>>> ONE ORGANIZATION IS WORKING TO END GUN VIOLENCE IN CHICAGO ONE WEEKEND AT A TIME.

TONIGHT WE TAKE YOU INSIDE AN OPERATION PROVIDING YOUNG MEN OPPORTUNITIES TO CHANGE THEIR LIVES BEYOND THE STREETS.

JOANNA HERNANDEZ JOINS US NOW WITH MORE.

>> FOR THE LAST SEVEN YEARS, THE ORGANIZATION CHICAGO TREAD HAS BEEN TACKLING GUN VIOLENCE.

THEY BELIEVE THE SOLUTION STARTS WITH THE INDIVIDUAL, GUIDING THEM THROUGH THERAPY AND EDUCATION.

>> WE TALK ABOUT THE MENTALITY.

>> Reporter: IT'S A PACKED GROUP SESSION INSIDE OF ONE OF THE NINE LOCATIONS.

OVER SEVERAL MONTHS, PARTICIPANTS LIKE DAR VEL BARNES ENGAGE IN A PROGRAM TO CHANGE THEIR LIVES.

>> A LOT OF THE VIOLENCE IN THE CITY HAS CAUSED ME TO FEEL LIKE I NEED TO MAKE A CHANGE IN MYSELF TO MAKE A CHANGE IN THE COMMUNITY.

>> Reporter: BARNES GREW UP OVER THE SOUTHWEST SIDE.

OVER THE YEARS, HE HAS LOST SEVEN FRIENDS TO GUN VIOLENCE.

>> WAS THERE A POINT WHERE YOU THOUGHT YOU WERE ABOUT TO LOSE YOUR LIFE?

>> SEVERAL TIMES, SEVERAL TIMES.

I GOT SHOT WHEN I WAS 15.

VERY SCARY SITUATION.

I GOT CHASED QUITE A FEW TIMES IN MY TEENAGE YEARS, BEING SHOT AT.

>> Reporter: BILLY MOORE THE ALUMNI MANAGER KNOWS THE TYPICAL JOURNEY YOUNG MEN FACE.

AFTER SERVING 20 YEARS IN PRISON, HE NOW HELPS OTHERS TRANSFORM THEIR LIVES.

>> PEOPLE COME FROM A SET OF CIRCUMSTANCES THAT MAY REDUCE OPPORTUNITIES OR NOT GIVE YOU SO MUCH ACCESS TO WHAT OTHER PEOPLE MAY HAVE ACCESS TO MAKE BETTER DECISIONS.

>> Reporter: ACCORDING TO CRAIG, 75% OF GUN VIOLENCE TAKES PLACE IN 20 OF THE 77 CHICAGO COMMUNITIES, MOST OF THOSE AREAS ARE ON THE SOUTH AND WEST SIDE.

>> YOU ARE NEVER GOING TO ELIMINATE PEOPLE FROM USING GUNS AND SHOOTING PEOPLE.

BUT WE DO WANT TO GET TO A PLACE WHERE PEOPLE FEEL SAFER.

>> Reporter: THE PROGRAM TAKES RECRUITS THROUGH A VARIETY OF STAGES FROM THERAPY TO LIFE COACHING, SERVICES THAT MANY IN THE PROGRAM SAY THEY HAVE NEVER HAD EASY ACCESS TO.

>> I THOUGHT IT WAS THE WRONG PERSON OR SOMETHING.

BUT NOW I'M ABLE TO REALLY COMMUNICATE AND LIKE EXPRESS MY THOUGHTS THE RIGHT WAY.

IT IS LIKE I'M COOL WITH IT.

>> Reporter: 25-YEAR-OLD STEVEN THOMPSON IS NOW IN A WHEELCHAIR AFTER BEING SHOT THREE TIMES.

HE SAID GROWING UP IN TOUGH CIRCUMSTANCES LED HIM DOWN THE WRONG PATH, A VERSION OF HIMSELF HE WANTS TO LEAVE BEHIND.

>> IT HELPED SHIFT MY FOCUS BACK INTO REALITY.

>> Reporter: ONE OF HIS FOCUSES IS TO PROVIDE PEOPLE WITH MENTAL HEALTH SERVICES, ONE ON ONE COUNSELING AND OTHER WORK SHOPS.

>> THEY HAVE NOT REALLY FACED THE MENTAL HEALTH ISSUES THEY ARE DEALING WITH, THE TRAUMA THAT HAS BEEN PACKED INTO THEIR LIVES FROM CHILDREN ALL THE WAY UP TO YOUNG ADULT HOOD.

>> Reporter: ONLY SIX MONTHS INTO THE PROGRAM, BARNES SAYS HE IS CHANGING THE COURSE OF HIS LIFE.

>> HOW WOULD YOU DESCRIBING A FEW YEARS BACK?

WHAT WAS LIFE LIKE?

>> IT WAS HARD.

IT WAS HARD.

JUST TRYING TO KEEP MYSELF SAFE AND OUT OF TROUBLE, IT SEEMED LIKE IT WAS GETTING HARDER AND HARDER ON A DAILY BASIS.

>> Reporter: BREAKING GENERATIONAL CYCLES IS WHAT BARNES SAID HE IS DRIVEN TO DO WITH HIS CHILDREN.

>> GROWING UP IT WASN'T LIKE EXTREMELY ENCOURAGED IN OUR COMMUNITIES THAT FATHERS SHOULD, YOU KNOW, MAKE THE NECESSARY CHANGES IN THEIR LIVES TO ENSURE THEY WOULD BE THERE FOR THEIR KIDS.

ALL OF THE TIME AND ATTENTION I WANTED AS A KID, I CAN NOW GIVE MY KIDS.

>> Reporter: WE ARE TOLD THAT MORE THAN 1,000 PEOPLE HAVE BENEFITTED FROM THIS PROGRAM WITH THE GOAL OF CONTINUING TO