CALL TO ACTION: Another Kid Killed

Members:
I am writing you with a heavy heart today. I'm sure most if not all of you have heard about Darius Brown, the 13 year old boy killed in a drive-by shooting last evening as he played basketball at Metcalfe Park. As a coalition, we came together with the common interest of building a safety net for our young people, so that kids like Darius can do what they love to do: live, play and enjoy the warm weather outdoors. Unfortunately, the onslaught of senseless violence is preventing this and our children are continually getting caught in the crossfire.

We HAVE to do something! I am asking each of you to come out and work together to develop a plan of action to address these killings. This is not a meeting request: this is a time to discuss concrete actions and steps that we as a community and concerned people can take to, at the very least, make sure our children and other innocent people stop being gunned down because they are in the right place at the inopportune time. We know there is no magic solution to make this all go away. But we have to show a strong and continuing presence out there so that the word becomes "...not in this community...".

Friday, August 5th @ 4p.m
3619 South State Street, 3rd Floor

Those ideas, suggestions and maybe even those plans you've been mulling over in your head and even talking to others about, bring those out! Let's develop immediate, short term and long term plans: immediate needs to be soon and out in the open so that the presence is seen and can leave an impression (a vigil for all of the victims over this summer, a rally, etc).

Let's do this together! If you can't attend, send a representative or you can even email your ideas.

I've included some information about this latest incident below.

I hope to see as many of you as possible tomorrow!

Wishing you the best,
Michelle Newell
Stateway Community Partners
The Grand Boulevard Safety Network Coalition
3619 S. State Street, 3rd Floor
Chicago, Illinois 60609
312-794-5047
312-794-5348 (fax)