"HOW THE WEST COAST GANG VIOLENCE INFLUENCED EAST COAST GANG VIOLENCE"

For as long as I can remember the east coast had their own style in dance,fashion,music & street codes.East coast gangs back in the da day, were not slaughtering each other on a daily basis,like the gangs of today.Families in the community at large could have BBQ's with no worry of shootings.There was more value for life,yes there were turf wars at times,still babies were not casualties as a result of it.Some east coast gangs even protected their neighborhoods.Yes occasionally there were a few deaths.There was even respect for turfs.Guns were not the primary weapon in street rumbles,generally the weapons of choice was fist,knives,bats,chains & a occasional zip gun!Mothers & fathers were not burying their children at the rate they are today.During the 80's "crack" epidemic gun violence began to escalate in the east coast.The murder rate began to rise as did membership in old school gangs begin to diminish,which evolved into drug gangs.The west coast gangs from as far back in the 70's had serious a "gun violence issue,their influence on the east coast began in east coast prisons in the early 90's ,hence the birth of violent street gangs on the east coast,along with the ignorance of the dirty south.Which is the mind set of most troubled youth & young adults involved in gangs on the east coast. I know this was done by design, by those who want to see America's inner city troubled youth kill each other off.Its time for the east coast to get back to being a leader not a follower,perhaps its time to send a new message of change to the west coast & the dirty south,that they have been bamboozled by societies elite,who have a plan that does not include inner city youth gang members or communities of color for that matter.Through awareness & education this can be done.I know this is a tall order,due to the fact of the "crisis of gun violence",economy & social unrest" amongst youth & young adults is at the forefront of the "plague" of community problems  .We start where we stand,this will lead to change for our children as well as adults.we owe it to our young as well as ourselves to change the direction of which our children are being led.Love for our  children and better way of life for them must be a priority.It will be our own fault,if we do not begin to implement "change" now! NO VIOLENCE-KNOW PEACE

IT'S TIME TO PUT THE WORD "NEIGHBOR" BACK IN HOOD!

In our neighborhoods we have allowed ourselves to be defined by what we call our communities.We need to start promoting positive language in our communities.As adults,parents & neighbors its up to us to improve the quality of our neighborhood,especially how we speak of it and the terms we use to describe where we live.Its time to bring back pride into our neighborhoods.This is done by not accepting the term "hood" be used to describe our communities.Yes we have the element of troubled youth & young adults in our neighborhoods,still that doesn't justify us labeling our communities as hoods.I believe small changes such as this will bring about change in our communities.I know at one time most neighborhoods were thriving,today with economic hardships,gun violence & unemployment,people are depressed,stressed out ,angry & without hope.The willingness to make a difference is not a priority for some.So that leaves the rest of us who are willing to lead by example.It really isn't difficult at all.It's our neighborhoods,lets start by being neighborly in our "NEIGHBORHOODS",this is simple stuff.I believe if we speak it enough,it will come to pass..............NO VIOLENCE-KNOW PEACE!

UNIFIED ALLIANCE/ "MY BROTHER'S KEEPER INITIATIVE"

I've heard it said if nothing changes,nothing changes.Its now being said marches & rallies have failed to bring peace back to our communities,One or two stop the violence organizations won't do it either.Has a unified alliance been tried,I'm not sure,still I believe it could work.A alliance of men from Grass Roots Orgs. to  who are willing to collaborate with other Orgs. for one cause.President Obama's "My Brothers Keeper Initiative". First connections need to be established and strong relationships built,unconditional commitment,Sharing resources.The execution of strategies,programs & reports of  the results,scheduled meetings.Respecting each organization's autonomy,This means no dictating to other Orgs. Spending more time on putting plans into action and less time talking about it.Becoming more visible in the community at large. Practice a selfless agenda and volunteering when necessary to help other Orgs. Being models of action,leading by example.Disagreeing without being disagreeable,keeping the primary purpose of the "My Brother's Keeper Initiative".This is not a "Self Serving" agenda. Let spiritual guidance be our conscious and our numbers our strength under God,let no entity divide us, also the recruiting of men in the communities to help in reaching out to male youth & young adults.This could work with love & action.............................NO VIOLENCE-KNOW PEACE!

***ENOUGH IS ENOUGH*** Save Our children!: A SHORT POEM ENTITLED "HOPE"

***ENOUGH IS ENOUGH*** Save Our children!: A SHORT POEM ENTITLED "HOPE": "Our troubled youth & young adults need education, not self extermination,they need love,not just from God above,they need for people to care..."

A SHORT POEM ENTITLED "HOPE"

Our troubled youth & young adults need education, not self extermination,they need love,not just from God above,they need for people to care,not people who just wanna stare,they need hope, to help them cope,they need a new life,free of suffering & strife,they need their parents to wake up & step up,they need their fathers to say "I'm hear for you son,then hopefully they wont have to die from a bullet fired from a gun"!..............................NO VIOLENCE-KNOW PEACE

"BODY COUNT" 2015

To whom it may concern,                                                                                                                                                                How high does the "body count" have to be before politicians, community leaders & people in the communities that suffer from the "PLAGUE" of "GUN VIOLENCE",get serious about preventing & stopping the violence that has put our communities under seige. It is now Spring with Summer on the way,will we experience the same as the Summer of 2014,where the "body count" in our communities was outrageous,which led to our leaders making speeches and photo ops to stop the violence.I say no!We need change,not the the same as before.A cowardly approach to this "CRISIS" will not work,we already have of proof of this.There are activists & orgs. who have missions & visions on how to save our youth & young adults and communities from any more senseless violence.The budgets which are given to our community leaders are not being used to help activists & Orgs who want to make a change for our communities,when politicians are approached for donations to help the troubled youth & young adults stuck on the  corners & war zones of the streets.They are told its not in their budgets,well its time to go into the( we aint got it fund) and start financing  those who need donations to change the element of violence in our communities,It is time to stop allowing the "PLAGUE" of violence hold our communities hostage.We have made no real progress in the movement in stopping the violence due to the fact,that those with budgets are not wiling to write checks for those who are on the front line in the movement to stop "GUN VIOLENCE".Give us what we need,I know there will be greater progress in the process towards a cease fire in our communities.Our children are the future,its time to invest in it.   ...................NO VIOLENCE-KNOW PEACE...............www.enoughisenoughsaveourchildren.org

WHAT WE CAN DO TO "UNITE" AGAINST THE "CRISIS"OF "GUN VIOLENCE"IN AMERICA'S INNER-CITY COMMUNITIES!

To "UNITE" against the "PLAGUE" of "GUN VIOLENCE" in our communities,first of all some of us in the community,need to stop living in denial about the daily occurrence of "VIOLENCE" in the community,stop believing that their children are some how exempt of whats happening.Second is the issue of how much do we care about our youth & young adults well being & future.The safety of our elderly needs to be a "PRIORITY",the elderly should be able to walk down the street,without fear of being robbed or shot.The people in the community need to support "GRASS ROOT ACTIVISTS & ORGANIZATIONS",who are on the front line in the fight to end "GUN VIOLENCE".Unity means standing for the greater good of the 'CAUSE" for which we unite! Understanding benefits of  "UNITY" in the community are unmeasurable,realizing that without the participation of those who live in the community all is lost.No more young lives have to be lost,in order for a community to "UNITE". When called upon by those who are making changes in the community to "STOP THE VIOLENCE",show up and stop staying home watching what happened on the local news.Instead be the news as the community who has "UNITED" to prevent "GUN VIOLENCE" in their community.It takes selflessness, unconditional commitment, sacrifice,speaking out,donations to fund programs for the communities troubled youth & young adults.Churches who's members are from the surrounding community,need to start being more involved in the major needs of the community.The members should demand this especially from these mega churches who take money out of the community and give back very little,start scheduling weekly meetings on the progress being made and what else needs to be done. Collaboration of  all activists,org etc. for one "CAUSE", to rid our communities of the "PLAGUE" of "GUN VIOLENCE".No more selfish agendas by those who say their for the people,but their actions say differently.No more going along to get along.Those outside the community,cannot solve what goes on in our communities.This is up to us,the people of the community.Let us "UNITE",for it is long over due!..............NO VIOLENCE- KNOW PEACE!