|
Accepting Responsibility to Reform Our Community Pt. 1 (Clcik on link)
http://noineworleans.org/mmm/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=118&Itemid=2
10 - Former Fischer Housing Development
5/2/09 - The Peace Keepers revisited the newly renovated Fischer Housing Development. Several residents of the developement express their desire to obtain their G.E.D. and wanting their records expunged. One of the moving experiences while walking through the developement came from a brief conversation that Brother Eric had with two young girls who were residents.
Brother Eric greeted the young sisters by saying, "How are you young queens doing? You know you are queens right?" The young girls nodded in response. "You know you all are beautiful right? You believe you are beautiful right? One of the young girls who was about 8 years of age looked up at Brother Eric and said in a soft voice looking down toward the ground responded, "Trying to." This experience further proved to us how important it is for the Peace Keepers to take the time and stop to share something powerful and affirming to the young children who are often running around in our communities with no supervision.
11 - Marrero on the Westbank
5/9/09 - A 14 year old Black male died due to a bullet fired from an AK-47 that struck him in the back of the head. The Peace Keepers traveled to Marrero which is located outside of Orleans parish to interact with the residents of the Marrero Housing Developement.
While there the brothers passed out musical CD's with messages by the Honorable Minister Louis Farrakhan. Some members of the 5% Nation of Gods & Earth who participated in the 1 Hour of Power walk informed residents about some of their mentorship programs and other initiatives they are launching. Nearing the end of the walk the Peace Keeprs came upon an area of the neighborhood that was clearly a "dope spot". Under a tree sat a couple of brothers who were hustling. Several of the Peace Keepers stopped and talked with the brothers and explained their presence in the area.
One of the brother was familar with Islam due to studying with the Sunni community in prison. The other brother was a believer in Christ but not a member of a particular church. To passersby these brothers looked probably looked like "thugs or gangsters", however, the conversation that these brothers engaged in with the Peace Keepers revealed that they were just young brothers who needed to be shown an alternative way to make money. The sad thing about this is that, not more than 80 feet away there were three churches. One of the brothers who sat under the tree mentioned how not one person from any of those three churches ever stopped and talked to them. Herein lies one of the problems that plagues our community. It is filled with houses of worship that are afraid to approach the very people whom they profess Jesus died for. LONG LIVE THE PEACE KEEPERS!!!!
12 - Homer and Vallette
5/16/09 - The Peace Keepers joined forces with a local Westbank preacher who heard about the weekly 1 Hour of Power walks. The pastor was so inspired that he now walks the community with a group of men from his congregation every 3rd Saturday of the month. To support their effort the Peace Keepers walked with them through a Westbank community.
13 - Iberville Housing Development
5/30/09 & 6/6/09 - The Peace Keepers returned to one of their frequently visited areas - the Iberville Housing Developments. This time they were join with some new members. While preparing the community walk the Peace Keepers were approached by the young man who they helped to refer to marital counseling. It was clear by his overall appearance and huge smile that things had changed for the positive in his life.
Near the end of the walk one of the Peace Keepers encountered three teenagers getting out of a vehicle dressed in white pants and R.I.P. t-shirts. Earlier that day they attended the funeral of one of their friends who was murdered in the housing developement several days ago. Two of the young men were armed. One with an AK 47 and the other a 9mm handgun. The Peace Keeper approached the young brothers and persuaded them to put the guns up. They were planning on retailiating against someone they believed was involved in their friend's death. Video footage of the Peace Keepers testimony is coming soon.
14 - America and Dale Streets in Eastern New Orleans
6/13/09 - Joined with new members of the Peace Keepers who started participating after the Men's Only Meeting at the local high school the Peace Keepers walked the Eastern New Orleans neighborhood. The brothers passed out information about jobs and talked with members of the community about images contained in the book Without Sanctuary. The book chronicles the lynching that took place in America after slavery. Many of the people were "unaware" that Black people were victims to such barbaric acts. A young brother and his girlfriend were sitting on the steps when they were approached by one of the Peace Keepers. After viewing the images he called his mother and others to come and see what was in the book. "Many, both black and white, tell our people that we should forget the past and move on. As you saw from the expressions and heard from their responses, many of our people don't even know about what happen to us! How can they forget what they don't even know, " stated one of the Peace Keepers.
15 - N. Broad and Dumaine Area
6/20/09 - Peace Keepers gathered on the corner of St. Philip and N. Broad to prepare to walk Dumaine Street, which is regarded by the NOPD as one of the cities hotspots. As has been the experienced since the community walks have begun, the Peace Keepers were warmly embraced and thanked for their effort.
|
