FREE MOVIE NIGHT

Gang 'Interrupters' Fight Chicago's Cycle Of Violenc

Eastside Peace March 2011

 

Download PDF Flyer 2011

A Message from Michelle

Hello everyone. I wanted to take a moment to share this story with you. As I have mentioned before the St. Charles group has gone through a lot of changes recently and one of our goals was to volunteer ea month. We volunteered in the beginning of March at the Denver Rescue Mission, doing meal prep. The kids were excited about the opportunity and after volunteering asked if we could do it every week. We agreed that every other week would be more realistic and last night was the second visit. Instead of doing the meal prep, we came later and served almost 300 people that came through the doors. It was a sight to see! In a cafeteria like setting, for 2 1/2 hours, I watched the young men and young ladies "hustle", cleaning up empty trays, refilling watcher pitchers and listened to them, with the utmost respect, address homeless men as sir. Afterwards, I offered to take the kids for some ice cream and while driving they discussed "how good it felt to do something good for others", "that today was a good day" and how "they never imagined that they would be doing this with GRASP and that it's not  just a hangout spot anymore", "that they are actually doing for their community" , that "it may just be us (referring to the fact that only about 7-10 come regularly now) but we're committed, we're out here doin stuff". They were so excited and just can't wait to do it again. (But wait, that's not the best part) As we entered  a fast food restaurant, we are in line ordering and a homeless man asks one of the kids for some change to buy a hamburger, the young man begins to pull some change from his pocket and I tell the homeless man to order what he wanted and I would pay for it. We sit down, girls at one table and boys at another. The homeless man happens to wonder next to us and starts talking to the boys. They offer him a seat at their table and I watched wearily, as three young man sat with him for almost an hour listening to him talk about life as they shared laughs and a hamburger together. As we were leaving, the girls asked the boys what they had been talking about and they said that what the man had to say "was deep, it was real"  and as I turn back to check if everyone is ready to get into the car, I witness one of those young men pull his sweatshirt over his head and hand it the homeless man. (that brought me to tears and of course I got made fun of for it! =) ) In the car they told they told the girls that he wasn't giving them advice, but spreading information. They said what he talked about would be their facebook quotes for the next month and that they can learn from anyone as long as you give time to listen...... I have heard people say that youth have no respect for elders. Why are we helping gang members, what's the point?, They don't care why should we? From now on, whenever I hear that I will look back and remember these kids, that night and will simply respond. "I've seen it.. give them an opportunity to be humbled, they'll outshine". I couldn't be more proud. Thanks for your time. I hope this brings a smile to your face or a moment of satisfaction knowing what we do, counts. Have a great day!

March Temazcalli

Barrio Unity Mural Project in the Denver Post

"Permission walls" help create a canvas for managing graffiti

The exterior walls of a one-time Denver lumberyard have become a legal canvas for graffiti artists to spray-paint their creations with the owners' blessing.

At least four of the buildings that made up Kroonenberg Lumberyards on West Jewell Avenue between South Acoma and South Bannock streets are now "permission walls" where graffiti is encouraged.

"There has been a lot of gang-banger graffiti over there, so to prevent that, we have had some people come and do more artistic stuff," said Steven Cook, one of the property owners.

Attractive to property owners because they help prevent unwanted graffiti on other parts of a business, permission walls have become popular in cities across the country in recent years.

 Read more:
"Permission walls" help create a canvas for managing graffiti - The DenverPosthttp://www.denverpost.com/news/ci_17345753#ixzz1Dd55ZSGV

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Tattoo Program in the Denver Post

Nonprofit group helps tattoos, former gang life fade away

The laser clicked and pulsed, pounding the tattooed gang initials that mark Lexi's arm, bringing her a step closer to a fresh start.

Once a member of the Crenshaw Mafia Gang Bloods, the Commerce City 14-year-old now wants to leave that life behind. Gazing at the patch of fading green ink on her arm, she said, "I get happy when I see it."

She is one of about 40 former gang members who will have gang tattoos removed this year through a program run by the nonprofit Gang Rescue and Support Project, or GRASP.

Read more:
Nonprofit group helps tattoos, former gang life fade away - The Denver Posthttp://www.denverpost.com/search/ci_17277022#ixzz1D4goOHJj

Read The Denver Post's Terms of Use of its content:
http://www.denverpost.com/termsofuse

 

MLK Marade 2011