Folks are planning to walk, walk and walk the rubber off their tennis shoes this month to push for unity and peace.
No, not peace in the Middle East but peace in Northeast, Southeast, Northwest and across the District line — where gun violence knows no borders.
The Peaceoholics anti-violence group is conducting its annual Unity at the Border March tomorrow morning.
D.C. Mayor Adrian M. Fenty and Prince George’s County State’s Attorney Glenn Ivey will lead two groups to the city-county border. Then they will walk together up Southern Avenue to Marlboro Pike to demonstrate that the coalition “can operate as one community in two locations” working against escalating street crimes and negative behaviors.
Peaceoholics co-founders Ronald “Mo” Moten and Jauhar Abraham are inviting youth leaders, community activists and concerned citizens to join in the 10 a.m. march, which begins at the Benning Road Metro station for city residents and at the Capitol Heights Metro station for Maryland residents. The aim is to “address the socioeconomic issues and violence that plague both communities.”
In the District, crime generally increases with the temperature. Noting “alarming” increases in senseless shootings in the District and the county, Mr. Moten, director of the Peaceoholics, said that it will take more than increased police patrols to stem the tide of youth violence.
“Hey, they shoot with the police right there, but they don’t shoot when we’re there, out of love and respect,” the 38-year-old ex-offender said. His statement followed a weekend in which there were more than 10 shootings in 48 hours in the city.
Working off the well-worn African proverb “It takes a village to raise a child,” Mr. Moten is adamant that adults become more active to engage young people as well as stop gun trafficking in the District.
“It’s people coming into our communities selling guns to kids like they was selling candy,” Mr. Moten said, wearing a starched “Peace-o-holics” button-down shirt.
Tomorrow marks the third year of the unity march. Crime at the border is not as bad as it has been, partly because of coordinated law enforcement efforts between the city and the county departments, Mr. Moten said.
However, it requires constant vigilance “out here working with these kids,” he added, to quash “beefs” and dust-ups. While showing you care and gaining their trust is necessary, he said, youths also must be held accountable.
Mr. Moten lists a number of issues that contribute to youth violence. “There is no real strategic plan in place to deal with the youth or their parents,” he said, referring to government leaders and agencies.
There is too much infighting not only among government agencies but community organizations vying for the same donors, he said. There are no positive activities or employment for the youths. Instead, they are bombarded with negative outside influences such as video games. Worse, these “immature kids” have easy access to high-powered weapons such as “street sweepers” and AK-47s, he said.
“Now, with nothing to do but fight, they’re killing each other like it’s a hobby,” Mr. Moten said.
The unity march is the first of several walkathons the Peaceoholics is organizing as part of the “Rebuild the Village Month” campaign it hosts each May.
Three “community health walks” to raise awareness about physical and mental illness and to foster healthier lifestyles, especially in the Washington Highlands, Eckington and Columbia Heights neighborhoods, are planned for successive Saturdays.
Next weekend, the Peaceoholics will send two busloads of D.C. youths to Alabama to participate in the commemoration of the 1963 Children’s March in Birmingham as part of a civil rights history and civic engagement project. Teens will walk the catwalk May 22 during the “Peace on the Runway” fashion show at McKinley Tech High School “to redefine stereotypes through fashion.”
“We try to engage the youth through things they like to do,” Mr. Moten said.
During our meeting in Northwest, he rapidly rattled off the “Rebuild the Village Month” activities in between phone calls and greeting grateful community well-wishers.
The Peaceoholics are scheduled patrol social events and happy hour venues next Wednesday to solicit area professionals to volunteer for “Mentor-a-Child” week from Sunday through May 10.
May 14 kicks off a “Street Soldiers Commission” to bring together young leaders “from different ’hoods” and give them a blueprint to go back into their communities and work with troubled teens.
In a forum at the Lincoln Theatre on May 13 titled “What’s Snitching and What’s Not,” panelists will ponder whether the police and the community can really work together.
A “Stop all Beefs Day,” honoring those who have “squashed their beefs” will be held on May 26 at Hope AME Church, where they will be feted with a “Peace-Go” dance.
It’s not just young men and boys committing crime these days. Girl gangs are growing. You don’t need official stats, just ride the Green Line.
For what it’s worth, Mr. Moten has enlisted yours truly to participate in the “Save Our Sisters” summit for 150 area girls on May 21 to be held at Turkey Thicket Recreation Center.
Who can refuse the passionate and committed “Mo?” Guess I’d better dig deep for my sneakers.
For more information, visit www.peaceoholics.org or call 202/562-1971.
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