From John de Leon at the Seattle Times:
One of the two teens wounded by gunfire Tuesday night in Seattle’s Rainier Beach neighborhood was featured in a Seattle Times story earlier this year on efforts to reduce youth violence.
Daveon Braxton was one of the two victims in the shooting, according to a report by our news partners at KING-TV. Braxton, 16, is expected to survive.
In February, Times staff reporter Lynn Thompson profiled Gabriel Ladd, 29, a former Cleveland High truancy officer, and his efforts to help Rainier Valley youth. Ladd started an organization called Youth 180, named for the degree of change he hopes to achieve in the lives of teenagers. With a $20,000 grant from Seattle’s Department of Neighborhoods, Ladd last summer recruited a dozen at-risk teenage boys and held classes and discussions on decision-making, the consequences of their actions and the importance of respecting themselves and others. They also took on community projects, including painting out graffiti and picking up litter. Read more…
Above: Youth 180 founder Gabriel Ladd looks on as Seattle police question witnesses in Tuesday’s Rainier Beach shooting, where 16-year old Youth 180 member Daveon Braxton was shot in the back. Below: Youth 180 at last year’s first annual March for Youth. Photos/do communications, inc.
Related:
- Two Teens Shot in the Back Leaving Rainier Beach Restaurant (5/5/09)
- Youth 180 Wants to “stop These Kids From Killing Each Other” (2/2/09)
Who to know, where to eat & what to do in one of America’s most diverse zip codes!
{ 26 comments }
It would be interesting to know if Daveon was still with the program or not. Good thing he survived, bad thing that he got shot.
Are these kids fighting over drug territory? Because a rap music video told them to? Because their gang’s rules require them to? Because it’s exciting and fun, and perhaps helps to get them some “action”? What is it? Anyone really know?
Ask the kids. They know.
Like I had mentioned earlier on a post I wrote concerning a related story. What are the people that are complaining doing about their community. Their not doing SHIT!!
If your not sitting here taking time out of your valuable day too work with these kids on a daily basis and help them harness the tools to live a better life don’t comment on what they do or how they live theirs.
You have the slightest on what us kids have too go thru. I know these people personally they were on their way to a violence prevention dinner and in the midst of trying to better their lives something truly negative happened to them.
Most of these you don’t live in this community or this era too say the least for one and for two unless you have children or are living this life day by day struggling to keep your friends and family alive you should have nothing too say because Daveon is still in the program and i’m more than excited too know that he’s alive and healthy.
Now he’s one more person who can live to make a difference something that you “grown ups” should be striving to do.
So Whats Up ??
Hey Moot.
Thanks for writing in. I think almost all the people who commented here do live in the community and do want to help. We just don’t know how to go about it. Most of us are far enough from our teenage years to have never dealt with the threat of gangs personally. We don’t understand what the young kids in our neighborhood are really going through.
I live blocks from Rainier & Henderson, and have two young kids, and I’d love to help out, but I’m scared. How can I help? What role do I need to play? A parental role to these kids? A teacher? A mentor? A cop?
You sound very angry at those of us who are concerned about our community. What specifically do you think our job needs to be in raising these kids and combatting crime?
Seeing as how your a mother you should take just that position in the community because a lot of the children these people on these blogs are talking about don’t have the family they need at home or have the resources to do what’s right.
Some kids simply don’t want to go home because of the dangers of being there. It’s hard being in my position because i’m only a teen myself. Being as that may I started a violence prevention and youth advocacy program so that kids can vent too each other and not on each other.
There is plenty of community outreach programs that you can be apart of and there is a group for mothers specifically. It’s called mother’s against violence the group is mainly mothers who have lost there teenage sons due to just that.
If you’d like more info I can set something up for the clueless Rainier Valley Community so they can really know what I deal with and what we go through. -P.S I did’nt mean too sound angry I was going for passion. -Mook
Good neighbor is right- what are they fighting over?
Editor, can you interview some of them? I really am curious.
I think these kids need some time out. This is an out of the box suggestion: Maybe if they spent some time away from their world …and worked with an artist, or helped out animals, or volunteered in a burn unit of a hospital or interacted with cancer suffering people, they would realize their gift is youth.
@ Mook – In the same way you wouldn’t want people over 18 to make assumptions about the youth in the community, I’d ask you not to make assumptions about those who are over 18 – there are many people trying to help out in SE Seattle. Some people are scared, some people are giving up, some people think it is futile because there is a conspiracy led by the Mayor to centralize all the crime and poor people in South Seattle. My only point is there are people trying and they are not clueless.
I really appreciate and understand your passion. Hopefully you will be able to help some of these folks avoid bullets or the law.
Thank you,
SSSL
I really appreciate people’s honesty in saying, “I’m scared, but I want to help”. That right there is the embodiment of community. Folks, we will never get beyond this violence unless we start looking out for one another and searching for answers together. Waiting for the mayor and the police to save us is as likely as a reincarnation of the Sonics.
Back when my parents were growing up, people looked out for each other. Neighbors were more than neighbors..they were family. That meant reporting suspicious behaviors, keeping an eye on the kids and telling if you tried to sneak home late (much to my annoyance ).
Now days, everyone is afraid of each other. We barely say anything to our neighbors except for the occasional wave. You know why? It’s because big media teaches us to be weary of everyone who is not in our immediate circle. Don’t talk to that old guy across the street because he could be a rapist or don’t greet those young kids because they might steal your purse.
When you separate your self from your community, it allows the divide and conquer approach room to grown. Just imagine how much crime would fall if instead of pointing our fingers at those “thugs”, we each volunteered time out of our week to better our community?
Enough rants from Myra
Hey, I grew up in the 60s and 70s and there wasn’t anyone around with anytime to look after me, at least not much; not those in my immediate family nor those in the community.
If you want to help…, one thing that seems fairly simple and obvious to me, is to get involved in the lives of young people, go read to kindergarteners or first graders — be the positive influence, the caring individual that keeps them from steppin over the edge in five or ten years when the options or lack there of are starin them in the face, they have no choices or opportunities, no experience to make good decisions, and very little time before somebody shoots them….
DG
does anyone know how Daveon is doing? I hope he’s getting support now that he really needs it.
Why are gangs fighting each other? From what little I have read about this topic, and by just googling gangs, it’s much like the mafia: they want to control turf, drug sales and prostitution.
These kids join gangs because of oppression and the need to fit in among other factors of antisocial behavior:
http://www.focusas.com/Gangs.html
Racism: When young people encounter both personal and institutional racism (i.e., systematic denial of privileges), the risks are increased. When groups of people are denied access to power, privileges, and resources, they will often form their own anti-establishment group.
Poverty: A sense of hopelessness can result from being unable to purchase wanted goods and services. Young people living in poverty may find it difficult to meet basic physical and psychological needs which can lead to a lack of self-worth and pride. One way to earn cash is to join a gang involved in the drug trade.
Lack of a support network: Gang members often come from homes where they feel alienated or neglected. They may turn to gangs when their needs for love are not being met at home. Risks increase when the community fails to provide sufficient youth programs or alternatives to violence.
Many people on this blog have expressed the need for our community to come together to stop the violence, through mentoring programs. Many people have expressed fear in doing so. I’m one of them, but I want to know how to help. Maybe what needs to be done is to have a more centralized mentoring program, or a more effective way to get the word out. It sounds like a lot of people want to step in to help out but don’t know the who/what/where/when/how of it.
If racism is the problem, why are black kids killing other black kids? That seems especially stupid.
As for the mafia explanation, are these kids actually making any money? If they were, wouldn’t the shootouts be at the Herb Garden or Canlis instead of outside a donut shop? (Hey, why would anyone with a brain get into a shootout at a donut shop? You KNOW the police will be all over that.)
“If racism is the problem, why are black kids killing other black kids? ”
IMHO, one of the most damaging and insidious side effects of intense, on-going abuse & neglect is the way it becomes internalized by the victim who eventually becomes his/her own worst captor.
This isn’t rocket science, people. Just check the state of our public schools, the state of your bank account the next time you pay for daycare or preschool, etc. and you’ll be reminded that this culture does not seem to value the childhood experience very much.
If we did, if we protected these kids and gave them the childhood and the education they need and deserve, something tells me that we might see some movement on the issue.
Until then, I suspect that it will continue to worsen as our kids search for meaning and respect in a culture that provides neither.
I understand that a gang can be a family to those who don’t have much of a family for support. But what does this have to do with pulling out a gun and shooting somebody?
IMO, the shootings seem drug-related, as this seems to only ever happen if someone is protecting a source of $$ income.
Everyone in this forum belongs to a “gang.” My immediate family is a “gang” and if you mess with me you are going to be messing with them. Understand? But notice how our “gangs” aren’t whipping out guns and pointing them at people, to kill them.
So, gangs are good as long as they don’t participate in illegal activities or violence. They resort to illegal income because they believe there’s no other way to make money.
Give them a good local job that makes a load of income and doesn’t turn them into a corporate white-collar zombie, and I’ll be the “gang” problem would disappear entirely.
You folks want to cure every little mental health problem walking around with a gun. Hey, good luck in that quest — that’s like searching for the Holy Grail. Give these kids a kick-azz job that shows them how to earn respect and gives them a place in the world, and they will spit on their former gang past.
This is America, and as such, it all comes down to money and respect. If you don’t have any $$ in this country, you are angry. Anybody without, is. Unless you’re an ascetic monk or a true saint — don’t even go there, because you’re not.
The focus needs to move to the local economy. Show these kids how to create their own start-ups and make some serious dough. Black youth services for the black community. Isn’t it about time?
Treating people like victims when they have a world of opportunity in front of them is disastrous, IMO.
Sean, I guess you have a long way to go if you cannot understand racism and oppression.
this seemed relevant, so i thought i would post:
http://www.cnn.com/2009/CRIME/05/08/chicago.children.slain/index.html
I think racism is starting to be less of an issue as the demographics shift; however, I do believe economic classism is on the rise. This is evident in SE Seattle which is one of the most diverse communities in the country and per capita our incomes are much less than other areas of Seattle.
If one were to analyze the level of affluence there may be some data that shows Asian Americans, East Indian American, European/Anglo Americans have the majority of the $$$ and thereby controls corporate America thereby making it hard for certain ethnicities/races to enter into the higher paying jobs. So, we just went full circle. Even though the demographics are changing and caucasians will be the minority by 2020, racism still could, theoretically, exist.
It’s too late for deep thoughts…..
SSSL
@ SSSL
I wasn’t making an assumption simply proving a point . No one likes to be judged , help those who can’t help themselves , If you harness the resources why not give it to those who don’t. By being scared that gives teenagers more of a reason to be scared also. If the people that were looking up to are scared were only going to fear that much more and with such a strong view point maybe you should be helping a little more not saying that your not but what exactly are you doing. If your not clueless you should be asking me (an at risk youth ) what you can do too help. Because if I barely care too see what your writing and I’m choosing too write back to these blogs and such the kids who are in even more danger than me are truly not going too care or even want to listen. –
@Myra
You make a valid point.
Why are we as neighbors scared too speak or touch or even wave at each other?
Not questions many of us can answer huh.
Maybe you should start by starting friendly conversation with someone or be the one not too flinch when people walk by you.
-just a suggestion.
@Sam
Theres no need too google gangs if you look out your front door assuming that you live in this community you would be able to find out.
@ Sean
It wasn;t a shootout they were being shot at there was a perpatrator and a victim.
@Editor
Point Proven and Taken (Checkmate)
@Good Neighbor
The reason for guns is that those who don’t have family and the gangs are their family when your family is hurting you do anything too protect them or too maintain the respect for your family. So as means of personal justice when you see someone hurt at your expense you begin too feel authority and power. (not intending too make an excuse for it but too shed light on the situation) Maybe if they had real family the gang life would’nt be appealing.
From your articulate comments and postings I’d say you have a great future ahead of yourself – I hope to see you prosper.
Oh, sorry Mook, for googling gangs and trying to get more insight on how to work to prevent violence, or to look up resources. And, yes, I do live in this community, steps away from the house that was pumped with 19 rounds of bullets earlier this year. Remember, no one likes to be judged.
Yet again not judging merely giving suggestions. The resources are all around. Shall I point out that Boug and I are Presidents of a violence prevention and youth-advocacy program that wants all the help we can get. You never know these things until you ask. -Mook
Mook, if you read the posts here, we ARE asking how to help. Why is there this big mystery as to where to go to volunteer, or who to contact, or what skills/services are needed. I was at a dinner party last week where this exact topic came up. One person suggested Big Brothers and Sisters, while another person wondered how to help/mentor more teens in our neighborhood, but we all drew a blank when on where to go to volunteer. Where do we go? The Boys and Girls Club on Rainier? I really don’t know. So, tell us.
@ Sam
The first step is the march 4 youth today at the Tully’s on Rainier and Genesee my program will attend and I can give you more information. Mook is my name so feel free too yell if you don’t see a lightskinned girl with a black sweatshirt and blue jeans. -Mook
Mook — great to have you out at the March4youth meeting on Monday! For anyone wanting to help the next March4youth planning meeting is Monday, May 18, 2009; 4pm at Tully’s — Rainier and Genesee. We hope to see some of you whom would very much like to participate in providing something positive to the young people and families that are the victims of this situation.
While so many want to help they don’t always follow through — we can’t always blame them either cause we don’t know everything about their lives. If you have not experienced oppression, racisim, classism or even possibly regular mailicious favoritisim then you could not possibily have an accurate understanding of what these kids are coping with on a daily basis. And all that negative crap they are buying into, somehow, we all are supporting it, buying it, and pushing it forward. I think if we expect them to behave differently then we better start behaving differently. Just my few cents — DG
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