As of 2008, the escalating organized crime in the state of Chihuahua has brought with it countless expressions of extreme violence, the most obvious social effects being a generalized fear and collective anguish. In contrast to the militaristic vision, the non-governmental organization ‘Umbral A.C.’ launched a Community Intervention Program (pic) based on cultural promotion so as to counteract and prevent these effects amongst the most socially vulnerable groups, such as adolescents. The objective of the pic —regarding social change— is basically aimed at improving cultural consumption and the organized participation of the beneficiaries themselves through selfmanagement practices. A study of the experience gained from the pic has led to the construction of an enriched intervention model which is applicable to similar social contexts. This paper delves into the essential theoretical questions which guide the research, the methodological foundations that accompany the case study, and the outstanding information resulting from the said fieldwork.