Youth

Youth
22 Oct
0

Empowering Tomorrow’s Leaders: The Youth Over Guns Initiative

In a world where gun violence continues to plague communities and claim the lives of young individuals, the need for proactive solutions has never been greater. The “Youth Over Guns” initiative is a beacon of hope, working tirelessly to equip our youth with the skills and knowledge they need to choose a different path—one that leads to leadership, resilience, and a brighter future. The Youth Over Guns Initiative: A Glimpse into Transformation Founded by a group of individuals who have personally felt...

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22 Oct
0

Building a Solutions-Based Community: A Blueprint for Gun Violence Prevention

Gun violence remains a pressing issue in many communities across the world, causing pain, loss, and fear. While it’s a complex problem, communities have the power to initiate change. Creating a solutions-based community that focuses on gun violence prevention is a proactive and empowering approach. In this blog, we will explore the key steps to build such a community, where individuals can come together to make a positive impact. Awareness and Education The first step in creating a solutions-based community is to...

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23 Sep
0

19 Years & A Casket

After all I’ve done for my son all I get is a CASKET!? Don’t say that Kim! Don’t say that! You got this and that and time and blah blah blah!  Yes I did get all of that. But I poured my time, my money, my heart and soul into my child and all I got after 19 years is a casket… A lifeless body buried in the ground way before his time… With all of the money I spent on trainings, gear, workouts,...

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05 May
0

PATIO TALK WITH “THE FAMILY” 🖐🏽 MOMS

I talk a lot about my sons “The Family” 🖐🏽 but there are “WOMEN OF STRENGTH,” behind these young men who make them who and what they are. After interviewing them, Felecia decided we should tell our story too. I met Felecia, Terrod “Roddy’s” mom and Olivia, Quincy “Q’s” mom during basketball season at Franklin High School in 2016 and 2017, and I met Takeshia, Daniel “Danny’s” mom and Shenné, Elijah “E’s” mom after Samaad passed. In the end we...

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27 Apr
0

“The Family” 🖐🏽 NOT A GANG Part 2

1. How did you all meet and when?Terrod-I met different people at different times, but we all came together as one between our sophomore year and senior year.Davon-Everyone I met in the Fives I met while I was in high school my freshmen or sophomore year. 2.  How did you end up calling yourselves “The Family?”Terrod-Honestly, Tyree. The 5ive emoji “🖐🏽” meant so much to Tyree and anyone who was considered as family to him, when he would text you he would...

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24 Apr
0

WHAT PATH ARE YOU ON?

Life can change quickly. Understanding that takes a different kind of mindset, a different kind of person. People say that I’m strong. If they only knew that I pray for strength daily. What they also don’t know is that I’m a realist. To understand life I had to accept death as a part of it. I accept my life paths and journeys even though they change like moments. Allowing God to guide me and having faith is how I live...

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01 Apr
0

“THE FAMILY” 🖐🏽 NOT A GANG

Samaad and his best friends/brothers call themselves “The Family.” The members are Omar, Syed, Terrod, Davon, Elijah, Davay, Obrian, Tyree, Dominic, Tayo, Quincy, and Danny. They are a group of young men who come from different nationalities, have different personalities, and each contribute something different to their friendship/family bond.  I was so intrigued with their love, loyalty and support of one another I decided to write about them to learn more about how they met, what makes them click, and why...

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20 Mar
0

You Should be More Afraid of the Consequences than Your Actions!

Rationalizations make it easier to live with ourselves when we do the things that we want to do, rather than the things we know we should do. We know right from wrong; we were all taught this at a young age. What we never realize is that our actions could have consequences so deep to ruin not only our lives but our families as well. The fact that gun violence even reached Somerset, NJ still shocks me. Somerset is considered...

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05 Mar
0

What’s at the End of Our Choices?

Every day I think of what could have been done differently to save Samaad’s life. There are so many questions and WHAT IFs. What if I didn’t have to kick him out because he was on the wrong path? What if he would have just stayed home that day? What if he never got depressed and fell off? What if that Coach never destroyed his self esteem? What if he would have never been on that block? What if I...

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