Until life on the streets took him in, Jesus Monge says, he was a quiet kid who did well in school in Pleasant Grove and made friends easily. He remembers being an avid learner, bilingual in reading and writing. He won a few spelling bees, something he’s still proud of at 34.
Monge’s parents were immigrants. His mom worked two jobs and his dad was the silent, stoic type. Then, the summer before his freshman year of high school he was introduced to the Dallas gang Eastside Homeboys. A friend’s older brother was a member, and while Monge and his friend were too young to know much, they were old enough to recognize the respect the gang’s leaders received.