Youth Take Lead in Speaking Out on Violence & Solutions at Saint Sabina’s Forum

WGCI’s Tony Sculfield and actress Drew Sidora, who is starring as Tionne Tboz Watkins in VH1’s Crazy, Sexy Cool who once starred in “That’s So Raven,” hosted a question and answer session with the youth. The panel included youth leaders: Corey Hardiman, Camiella D. Williams, Mack Julion, Young Flo, Jemilia Boom, Lamar Johnson, youth organizer of The Brave, Trevon Bosley, Jasmine Lewis, Dantrell Boyd, Darnell Boyd, Kenya Muhammad, Kaylynn Harris, Maya Brant and Lorenzo Welber.

A Chicago native, Sidora, who said she began performing at the age of 3 when she played the piano, booked her first job at the age of 8. “I was always a dreamer…that kept me going, so what I want to do for Chicago is to uplift those youth out there who have dreams of being something bigger, something better that society said they would be.

Having launched her Dream Makers Foundation, Sidora said, “I want to give them an opportunity to have mentorship. If you want to be an actress, a model a dancer, there is no reason why you can’t. I am providing resources and mentoring for someone to not just come and have a speech but actually take those kids…and educate them on how to act…”

Activist Camiella D. Williams, 25, one of the panelist, said she also go into schools to talk about violence prevention, speaking at events, doing outreach to the youth and their families. A graduate of Saint Sabina Academy, Williams said she became involved in the community at the age of 18. “It is going to take our stand to take back our community….”

A senior at Morehouse College majoring in political science, Corey Hardiman, 22, an activist from Roseland and founder of Enough Chicago that not only spotlights violence but also brings solutions “in helping urban young people to become a voice and not just a shoe filler in their community.”

Pam Bosley, the mother of slain Terrell Bosley, 18, who was murdered in front of a church while going to choir rehearsal, and her husband, Tommie, who heads the Purpose Over Pain organization, was one of the moderators of the all-day event held at the Saint Sabina Academy in the Bethune Hall.

The students had several workshops to choose from including Youth Expungement, Positive Music, Let’s Talk About Sex and Parental Techniques.

Representing Rep. Robin Kelly (D-2^nd), Anthony Beckham, an outreach worker, said Kelly, who replaced former Rep. Jesse Jackson, Jr., has been in office 100-days. Beckham said his job “is to bridge that gap between older people and younger people. We don’t have all the answers to what is going on out the in the community. We don’t know why they are happening, but our job today is to come together as one.”

The first vice president of the Young Democrats of Illinois, Lorenzo Webber said his responsibility is to make sure youth in Illinois become active in the democratic process.

Tommie Bosley said besides talking to youth in the community about conflict/resolution, the affects of gun violence and going into schools, Purpose Over Pain also holds “Safe Saturday Nights” where youth come to Saint Sabina’s ARK, 7800 South Racine where they provide basketball camp, a mentoring session and for the ladies provide fingernail painting, beauty tips as alternatives to negative activity.

Treana Johnson, public information specialist with Dorothy Brown, Clerk of the Circuit Court of Cook County’s office, held an expungement session.

Pam Boseley told reporters the idea was to have the youth come with their ideas of stopping the violence and that the workshops will help them prepare to play a major role in teaching them to work together as a team with other groups. “Those being killed are under 19. They are important because youth listen to youth…and can reach out to them…. They hear each other all the time.”

One of the talented youth attending the summit was Jerald “Just Flo” Anderson, who is an artist, a Hip Hop Spoken Word and entertainer, brought his 1-year-old son, Jerald Lee Anderson, III, unveiled a sketch of Father Michael L. Pfleger that looked remarkably like the popular priest.

Another performing youth was 8-year-old Ryan Williams, better known as ‘Lil Prophet,’ who is an amazing Hip Hope artist.

Chinta Strausberg is a Journalist of more than 33-years, a former political reporter and a current PCC Network talk show host. You can e-mail Strausberg at: Chintabernie@aol.com.