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It’s getting dark on Friday night in Point Breeze and on the 1600 block of South Ringgold Street, there are a good eight to 10 young men hanging out in front of someone’s home. Second District City Councilman Kenyatta Johnson walks up to them to tell them about his Stand Up, Man Up program, which holds a service and conversation Fri., Nov. 14 5 to 7 p.m. at the Church of the Redeemer, 1440 S. 24th St., around the corner from Ringgold Street.
“I was very excited to go out – Friday evenings are when you find a lot of mischief taking place. We strategically wanted to go out on a Friday night to talk to men on the corners to talk about our Stand Up, Man Up initiative,” Johnson explained. “I’ve always had a vision of peace, not guns, for the communities of Point Breeze, Greys Ferry and South Philadelphia as a whole.”
As a product of Point Breeze, Johnson has seen it all.
“I had a cousin and several of my friends that were murdered during the time around 1996 to ’98, and I watched several of my friends and cousins fall victim to gun violence, senseless acts of gun violence,” he said. “That’s where my passion comes from.”
The Councilman calls South 18th and Dickinson streets his childhood home, but it wasn’t until he left for college that his eyes were opened up. “I believe firmly the more you expose young men to things other than their immediate environment, it will broaden their horizons and they begin to think about the different possibilities of what they can be,” he said. “Having the opportunity to go to Mansfieled University, to see the world was bigger than 18th and Dickinson, I had no idea there was a whole other world out there waiting for me.”
That’s what he’s hoping Stand Up, Man Up can do for at-risk youths in South Philadelphia. And what does at-risk mean? “Those who are likely to commit an act of violence and those who are predisposed to falling victim to an act of violence,” the resident of the 1800 block of Manton Street said.
15- to 24-year-olds are the primary target of his campaign, and he aims to show them that there is a way off the streets; to connect with resources, leaders, mentors and positive role models to show them that there are great rewards for making positive life choices.
“Homicide rates amongst African-American young men between 15 to 24 are amongst the highest in the country,” Johnson pointed out.
Dr. Charles Williams, a longtime Philadelphia activist, writer and current director of Drexel University’s Center for the Prevention of School-Aged Violence, will be on hand at tomorrow’s service. It will be moderated by Rev. Omari Hughes from the Church of the Redeemer, and Johnson said “this is all in an effort to start the dialogue and engage in some life lessons with individuals who’ve quote-unquote been there and done that as a way to encourage and inspire our young men to become positive influences in their own communities.”
As an incentive, they’ll be giving away Eagles and Sixers tickets and Villa Shoes gift certificates.
Things may look better than they did in ’98, but the Councilman said, despite the gruesome violence, there used to be some rules of decency that are no longer. “Now there’s no code,” he noted, not condoning any form of violence, but saying “When I was a kid, no one would shoot at a kid or a woman or shoot at someone in front of their parents, which goes on on a regular basis now.”
Giving praise to a couple local resources, Johnson said if it weren’t for some key leaders, he may have never made it out himself. “If it wasn’t for community leaders taking some time and talking to me and encouraging me and getting me involved in programs such as the Christian Street Y [1724 Christian St.] and the Peacemaking Program at the Dixon House [1920 S. 20th St.], I could have also fallen down the wrong path,” he said.
I asked Johnson, on our walk around Pt. Breeze towards the Vare Rec. Center, 2600 Morris St., if he can pinpoint a source of so many young men’s inclinations to turn to the streets and he said it’s about families falling apart. “I think it’s a result of the elders of the community not stepping up and intervening and discouraging all kinds of violence but also mentoring and showing these young men how to become positive and productive members of their environment,” he added.
There is a target demographic Johnson’s campaign is aiming for, but he welcomes all kinds of South Philadelphians to participate. “Our event will be open, so if parents want to bring some young men that are younger, they’re more than welcome to bring them,” he said. Adding “You can be from Grays Ferry, Point Breeze, Hawthorne, Packer Park, any young man who has an interest in attending the forum, especially around the issue of gun violence, we welcome them to come and participate.”
Staff Writer Bill Chenevert at bchenevert@southphillyreview.com or ext. 117.
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