Celebrities Giving Back

Tyrese Gibson along side many other Celebrities took time out of there day to speak to the young minds of today!  About dreams and goals, the ambitions for the future and how to get there, this was something we don't often see but takes place! It's a good look, but even more so it's a great feeling to have knowing that they care and support the young minds!

Derrion Albert The Tragic end to Life, Youth, and Beauty

When I was sixteen the biggest fear I had was if a boy liked me, and my biggest concern was did I pass that test? Did I get my homework done I don't remember, but the thought of losing me life for nothing never came across mind. The thought of seeing my mother's face in the morning and not ever seeing it again in the evening was never a concern for me. However that wasn't the case for this young man who lost his life for what? The price of a life is now in the hands of kids, young people who can't and don't do take care of themselves.

I was shocked when I first heard this story, but then to find out it was caught on tape was heart breaking for me. I understand that through the tape the police and those in law enforcement can catch those involved, but the family will have to watch that on television. You know things were suppose to get better with President Obama in office, his entering the office embarked change for us all, but this is far from it. I'm 23years old and I fear the idea of bringing a life into this world. This young man was 16years old, and lost his life in what the media is calling "mob like action" all because he didn't want to join a gang? Or the fact he was protection someone else from joining a gang? His life was lost to a violent brutal end that didn't have to happen at all. This took place in Chicago but it could have been any where to anyone. We have lost to many great lives to pointless violence and he was just a baby to young to have lived a life. To young to have gone all the places he wanted to go, and do all the things he'll never be able to do now. However the lives that took his are over now too, the cycle has to end now before more lives are lost. We shouldn't wait until this makes it to our backyard. I'm sorry but my heart is bleeding into this story because it didn't have to happen. It didn't have to happen like this or at all and the price of a life is no longer valued as precious but as timed commodity!

I can't understand where were the police and where was the security on the campus and what about the teachers? Where were the people we send our children, cousins, nephews and nieces to school with to protect them at when we need them? I can't help but send out my prays and deepest heart felt understanding to the family. I lost a friend of mine to violence back when I was in high school. He was killed off campus while I was at lunch laughing and joking around, he was losing his life for nothing. He ran over by a truck and them backed up over again, by a man who had nothing to do with the argument taking place. But because he knew the girls involved he killed my friend for nothing.

What are we leaving behind every time another life is lost to preventable violence? " If we kill off the future who is the Future!" quote me this isn't the first life lost to violence but it should be the last. What are we teaching our children and those that are around them that you create your own results at any cost? We need to do better and now, not later not next week but now is the time for a call to action!

By: Geneva Relf






"I think the answer lies in those who are not afraid to take responsibility for the future when others can't or won't."- Arielle Alexander

Ending the Violence with Peace Not War

Ending the Violence with Peace Not War

By: Geneva Relf


This world is a complex place and we are surrounded with negativity. I often catch myself turning off the news and ignoring the news radio. We have become so use to watching violence that's it's almost nothing to us. Youth violence has grown over the years and has gone from simple fighting to now they are killing each other. We are losing our youth not to anything new but to things we have taught them and showed them. I often wonder what hope we have when the world we live in doesn't seem to care. We sell more movies that contain violence than anything else. We need to remember that what we put out there will come back to us.

Our children are prime examples of that and we need to grab every program and resource we have that is trying to change the way we live. The UK is no different except the violence is more racially motivated. Blacks vs. Blacks or as it is said black on black crime and it has gone ignored until now. Violence doesn't care what race you are or even where you live. However the results are the same and everyone pays the price for our neglect to respond. One tragic event takes place and it took a life before anything was done or at least attempted. A young boy 11yrs old was shot tragically and left for dead. We can't just blame the games for things like this tragedy there were so many factors that come to play here. UK Prime Minister Gordon Brown said that he is "aware growing concern". Mr Brown said: "The sources of information for children from a very young age now are the internet, television, commercial advertising. That is a good thing in so many different ways, but where there is pornographic or violent material, any parent is going to be concerned." (guardian.co.uk) Now censorship is the best way to do things and keeping them from all the outlets we provide them with daily! He added: "I think we have got to look at this as a society. I hope this is one of the areas where there can be common ground between all parties. I think you need to review this with a large number of representative groups, from parents, from the different industries itself and from other areas of publiclife. (guardian.co.uk)

Well we have a chance to change the life of these young people. Booshie is doing just that by creating an outlet. The apprenticeship program will teach these youth a trade and give them something to advance towards. This program will give these youth another option and another way of life. I can quote her as saying "My aim for the project is to open a creative studio in the most deprived area of London and help kids from deprived backgrounds who have creative talent and teach them skills through apprenticeships." this is a paid apprenticeship so they will really get a feel for what it is to be in the fashion world. However this isn't just about designer hand bags or keeping dying traditions alive but building hope for those who need it. She also feels that "The apprenticeships will also involve attending college 2 days a week for key skills such as Math & English as many of our under privileged often get expelled from school without being able to read & write. " This is something that we need must do and need to do.

Her plan is something that should be supported this is a great cause for a struggling group of people. If we stand behind her and support her cause just think how many youth will be saved from this? Just image how safer the communities will be now that the youth have an outlet other than violence. She's not just giving them hope through fashion, but also through education and giving them something to look forward to. Teaching them the basics that most privileged youth take for granted.

Violence never solved anything and bloodshed only leads to more bloodshed. How many more youth have to be slain for the message to get across that they need help? Or even that something needs to be done life is a precious gift that should be treasured and given the chance to grow. I support her efforts and feel her pain when it comes to making a difference let's show these youth we still care. However she can't do it herself she needs help from the government and the surrounding communities.


Support the cause and check out the site.

http://www.booshiebagz.com/index.html
http://www.myspace.com/booshiebagz

Just Something To Think About

“Convey to the world a vastly different picture of the Black male” words spoken by the Honorable Minister Louis Farrakhan. When he was speaking of the Million man March that took place in 1995 in Washington, D.C. This march wasn't just to show the unity of brotherhood but to educate the world of the issues that plagues black America. This march was in one word inspirational and gave hope to those who didn't know that the power of change comes from those who are wiling to challenge, fight, and strive beyond its struggle. This march wasn't about placing blame on the government for our struggles but placing the responsibilities in our hands and taking back control. This movement proved that we can come together and stand for something, and it proved that we as a people do want better and strive to be better them the limitations placed on us. This movement inspired change in those who were there, watched and heard this powerful man speak about the world we live in. The conditions we live and challenge us to change the way we do things. Many men looking for guidance found it that day have strived to do better ever since then.


I looked around yesterday and it seemed like the first in years that I noticed the diverse world we live. How we are all striving for better and looking for guidance anywhere we can find it. I have been curious about a lot of things in my youth and the power we as people have over not only our lives but those around us. I can't stand television most days anymore everywhere you look there is another stereotyped and judgmental show that portrays the black community as less then. How we have fallen to rise to fall to rise. We have become use to saying our President is black but what does that mean? That we have someone who looks like us now? That we have raised the bar and expectations on the races and no more excuses?


"I am America. I am the part you won't recognize. But get used to me. Black, confident, cocky; my name, not yours; my religion, not yours; my goals, my own; get used to me." (Muhammad Ali) I didn't really understand that quote at first but now I do and I think we should all live by these words. We need to take back our own and start owning up to our potential as a people and community. We should take pride in that our President is Black, but he wasn't given the White Hose it took hard work and dedication to the cause he was fighting for. The vision provided that set his path he didn't stray from or hide from because of his race or the limitations set before him.

You know James Baldwin once said "People pay for what they do and still more for what they have allowed themselves to become. And they pay for it very simply; by the lives they lead." We have not because we strive not to have. We rather claim that we are victims of slavery and that our minds are still shackled. I don't have any chains on me and my thinking it's free as the day. So why are you bound even now after history has been made and we have the rights so many never got the chance to see?


Change comes when your tired of the same and when your ready for it. Change doesn't happen over night but with work and Patience it will come. It's not just important that we live as examples but we provide wisdom for those coming up. We must give them more hope then what we had so they can provide more hope for those to come. "The question is not whether we can afford to invest in every child; it is whether we can afford not to.” (Marian Wright Edelman) The truth is no we can't afford to let the youth of America continue on the path they are on. The answers we don't have the drug dealer has, and the pimp and world we don't want to lose them in. Now more then ever we should be striving to do better and be better then before.

By: Geneva Relf