Excel Youth Convene Community Resources to Discuss the Reality of Gun Violence
Aug 11th, 2009
Youth participants from Project Excel Safe Place began an Artworks apprenticeship on Monday, July 6th, which incorporate the goals of their Safe & Sound Crime Strategy Initiative. It involves learning about and developing a strategy to educate the community around the issue of gun violence. Safe & Sound worked together with Project Excel staff and youth to put together a series of learning experiences and presentations.
Representatives from the Wisconsin Anti-Violence Effort (WAVE) Heidi Rose and Kristina Paris spoke about gun violence statistics and policies. After their presentation they provide the group with literature, buttons and statistics handouts. They also did a Q & A session, but the group seemed a little overwhelmed, however a discussion held later brought out questions from two young ladies concerning death and violence. Mr. Campbel who is a teen mentor at Project Excel joined us in the discussion.
The next day the group viewed a documentary short called “Dear Rita” and interacted with two officers from the Milwaukee Police Department. The series of activities ended with a peacemaking circle facilitated by Community Partner Aaron Edwards.
The circle offered an opportunity for reflection on all of the experiences and a chance for youth and the officers to hear each others viewpoints. In the discussion with the police many of the youth had questions and shared personal experiences. Several seemed to have some misconceptions and both officers, Arzaga and Harris, did an excellent job of providing answers to questions and at the same time educating the rest of the group. The fact that these questions were asked and that the officers provided some clarifications contributed to the overall experience for everyone involved.
The effort was concluded on Thursday with another peacemaking circle facilitated by Aaron . The circle involved youth from Fitzsimmons Boy’s & Girls Club and Katchine Terrell from Prevention Rehabilitation Awareness Development (PRAD). The peacemaking circle was a success because it helped everyone better understand what each of the participants had experienced and how they interpreted it. We learned that several of the group members have been involved in fights both by confronting someone and by getting jumped. Moreover, we learned that almost everyone in the group has been affected by violence and a few of the youth have had direct experience with someone they knew who was killed by gun violence.
We completed the circle and the week’s activities with a question about how we deal with conflict personally. At the end of the circle two or three young participants who had originally passed on participation joined in and talked about how they had really traumatic experiences with violence. All of the participants learned from each other in this shared experience. With so much gained, but so many new questions raised, the youth leaders decided they will continue with the project into the fall.
