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May 11.2011
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It Takes a Village
c o n t i n u e d f r o m page 3
Royal Harris, a mental health
liaison for gang affiliated offend­
minder of a long history of the ers contracted by the Department
community’s gang-related vio­ o f C om m unity Justice and
lence.
Cascadia Behavioral Health, took
Kids getting into trouble could the microphone next.
have expected a lecture on non­
Harris asked the young folks in
violence during the session, but the crowd to raise their hand if
responsibility was directed at they knew someone who had been
adults.
killed, in a abusive relationship, or
“We don’t have a child prob­ knew where to get drugs. For
lem, we have an adult problem,” each scenario, more than half of
said Thomson. “Young boys need hands were up.
father figures and young ladies
“See, kids aged 10-18 have
need mothers.”
access to everything we don’t
As the topic fueled frustration, want them to have,” said Harris.
adults in the room took charge of
Bridging an obvious dialogue
the conversation.
gap between parents and children
One godmother of several chil­ in the audience, he continued,
dren scolded the group, “Parent “We have to make time for our
your child, don't let your child children. We are the ones that
come and kill me!”
have to be the guardians of the
Thompson obligated parents block, and provide protection,
to take action against those kids education, safety, belief, trust— ”
who may be acting out of des­
He went on, “Start in your
peration, by giving them the love household first.. .open your doors
and attention they deserve and to your kids and their friends;
showing them you care.
open your heart to them, because
“We forget that our children some of them might not have a
are people we can talk to. They father.”
need to be listened to, talked to,
LeMarcus Branch, cousin of
and need to know that they are Harris and former gang affiliate,
loved,” said Thompson’s mother, spoke.up saying that understand­
Taren Jackson.
ing kids is the only way to save
them from the dead-end life of
gangs.
“You’ve got to feel their pain.
These kids out here are hurt,”
said Branch.
“I was hurt, I was mad, I was
angry at everybody. I know, be­
cause I was one of them, but I am
here to tell you that you can get
over your hurt,” and to parents,
“ Know w hat th e y ’re going
through, what they’re thinking.”
.S ittin g nearby was Nicola
Spears, a single-mother of 16-
year-old son, Adolpha. Quietly,
she told me that in the last six
months, three of her family mem­
bers have been killed in gang-
related incidents.
“I’m praying my son will stay
away from gangs,” Spears said.
Spears grew up in Oregon with
many positive influences; an edu­
cation at a Catholic school, a
religious mother, and a father,
who though in prison, had a ma­
jor impact on his kids, telling
them “education is a must.”
She said there is nothing out
there for youth seeking alterna­
tives.
“Kids want out, but there’s no
where for them to go.” she ex­
plained. Spears said she waited
two years before she finally found
a mentorship for her son.
Many voiced thoughts on how
to end gang violence among youth,
but most emphasized a similar
solution:
“Give your kids time and atten­
Motivation
We’re all about that.
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Page 5
tion and your kids will love you
back,” Harris said.
Even Portland’s toughest gang
members are shielding a true out­
cry for help, so parents don’t be
afraid to walk up to your own kid
and tell them, “Hey, I see you.
And pull up your pants,” said
Harris, humorously.
The local community is invited
to join the next Restore the Village
meeting on Saturday, May 28.
The location has yet to be an­
nounced.
Restore the Village is a rolling
series o f com m unity forums
across Multnomah County where
concerned citizens, neighbors,
parents and young people come
together to openly discuss their
reactions to violence in their com­
munity and work together to find
solutions.