What will stop violence in the community?
It's a question I have heard for about 30 years now in Plainfield, and it is often linked to the question of how to get a young African-American male from late childhood to early adulthood without his becoming a victim of violence. I remember when at least one sorority gave up its cotillion in favor of supporting young males with special recognition. For a while when things were more Afrocentric in the city, rites of passage were held to mark a boy's transition to manhood. And many of us remember Larry Leverett's infusion of social and emotional intelligence training into local education so that the developing youth could learn to express their feelings and make good choices of action.
Regarding the last thing, here is more on social and emotional learning.
Maybe it is is still used in the Plainfield district. I regret that I have not been able to cover the school board in recent years along with municipal government and development.
After leaving Plainfield to become the superintendent in Greenwich, Conn., Leverett became the executive director of the Panasonic Foundation, where he continues his work in education. This article on "Eliminating Inequity for Black Males in Oakland" illustrates some of the strategies that can help create a brighter future for young men of color.
There are many organizations today in Plainfield that are working on the goal of equipping young people with the tools for personal success, despite the pressures and troubles of urban life. Mayor Adrian O. Mapp has promised a Youth Summit within the next few weeks. Either a resource directory or formation of a coalition would be a good adjunct to such a summit.
--Bernice
Subscribe to:
Post Comments (Atom)
It would be a wise move to confer with those who have been in those situations and who have made a successful paradigm shift. The true experts are those who understand the thinking of the hurt, the hungry and the homeless youth who seek love and solutions to their problems in the wrong places and from the wrong things. The paradigm shift is possible for those who want it. Invest in promoting the success stories not just the failures. Organizing for Peace,progress and Prosperity for all. Mr. X
ReplyDeleteThe war on drugs is a complete failure. It now appears the best way to address the surge of heroin addiction in the suburbs is to equip first responders with a heroin ante dote. In the mean time the urban kids are allowed to continue to kill themselves over "turf", but the suburban kids get to live another day.
ReplyDeletePlainfield is ripe for drug turf wars due to its logistics. The local law enforcement has been negligent in addressing this matter. Most of Plainfield's police force do not live here, consequently that results in apathy towards the needs of the community. I see overweight cops either eating, shopping or socializing (in uniform). Too many of them are sitting behind desks. The ultimate objective is to pad the pension. The more seniority, the more girth, the bigger the pension. As is typical of Plainfield, the residents pay for services they do not receive.
Hi Bernice,
ReplyDeleteI have trained and taught young men and women from Plainfield, Elizabeth, Newark and other urban and suburban areas for over 24 years. I have found that the best way to help young men and women avoid violence is education, job training, and a good job. This is not the end all, but if we give people skills and help them find a job, that makes does much more than anything else. I hope we can do this in Plainfield and help our young men and women feel good about themselves, help parents be responsible and involved in their kids lives, and help others in the community work to help. It really does "take a village" or city in our case.
Bob Bolmer
It also takes parenting. Where are they?
ReplyDeleteTrue. Too many parents are missing in action. Parents of all races and economic situations. Children don't ask to be born and don't want to be ignored or abused.
DeleteI wish Larry Leverett was still here!
ReplyDeleteA youth summit ? Please we need to save the drowning. Those who are afraid of water will be all right. Park ave is hurt hungry and homeless central. We need people who can speak the language of hope and change and put the resources behind them. Organizing for Peace, Progress and Prosperity for all. Mr. X
ReplyDeleteCitizens need to organize to combat drug buyers. Cell phone cameras and social media can be used to combat the problem. While a job can cure a drug dealer in a day, addicts are difficult to cure and are a daily issue. Plainfield is small enough that 100 citizens could organize an effort that will make drug buyers drive a little further to other cities we can all name.
ReplyDeletePeople are afraid. If you go over to 6th street, you'll see a gang of men that EVERY NIGHT hang around the corner and on a porch. They are dealing. The owner is afraid of them. the renters in the house are afraid. The police have been told MULTIPLE TIMES about the issue.
ReplyDeleteNothing is done. Why is that?