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Silence the Violence: Oakland Youth Working for Alternatives
Oakland Post
April 11, 2007
by Post Staff
When young community activists and independent hip-hop recording artists noticed that too many of Oakland's 148 homicide victims last year were under the age of 24, they decided they couldn't stay silent.
They teamed up with likeminded staffers at the Ella Baker Center for Human Rights in Oakland, a nonprofit that has worked on progressive issues related to social change. Supporters of "Books Not Bars," "Education Not Incarceration," and other youth advocacy groups, expressed their endorsements.
The result was a movement called "Silence the Violence" which sprouted less than a
year ago. Now, it's bearing some fruit.
Last week, a fundraiser was held at the home of Aimee Allison, the community leader who has run unsuccessfully for City Council.
Allison, and Van Jones, president of the Center, spoke of the need to support youth and the new campaign. A number of rappers entertained and donations were collected.
"War has now come to the streets of Oakland," said Allison. "Silence the Violence is
a peace movement." Jones said. "Young people are willing to do whatever it takes because no one in government was doing anything. We need Oakland to know these young people are jewels."
Homicide remains the No. 1 cause of death for African-American males between the ages of 18 and 24, according to the Centers for Disease Control. In urban centers like Oakland where drugs, violence and poverty intersect, community leaders have complained that a lack of programs and jobs fuels the crisis.
One Oakland parent is coping with a son and daughter in prison, and the murder of a third child.
In response to the violence, youths have held 2 1 peace vigils from San Francisco to San Jose, and supported jobs and opportunity fairs in downtown Oakland where hip hop artists performed to boost attendance. Over 700 people attended a Silence The Violence party at Oakland's historic Sweet's Ballroom, and in less than a year the increase the peace message has reached thousands, thanks, in part, to support from on-air personalities at KMEL (106.1 FM), the popular hip-hop radio station.
Other positive developments abound: Youth Uprising, the youth program in East Oakland is planning the first Oakland Peacemaker program, efforts are also being made to develop new, young leaders with solutions, safe and fun recreational events and getting youth to shift from hopelessness.
Former offenders and at-risk youth are agreeing to become "peacemakers" and work to solve conflicts and make referrals. Now, the Silence the Violence campaign is working to provide art supplies for every $25 donation, or offer transportation for "youth ambassadors" for $50. The cost to serve healthy meals for "Turf Unity" youth trainings is $100; and it's $500 to sponsor a Block Ambassador to organize a city block for peace. The cost for one edition of the Silence the Violence publication is $1,000, and $5,000 can fund a youth concert and jobs fair, according to Alli Chagi-Starr, Art and Events Director, Reclaim the Future.
Grassroots meetings have been held at the center, located at 344 40th Street in Oakland.
Concerns and priorities have been registered with members of the Youth Task Force convened by Mayor Ronald V. Dellums and with administrators of Measure K funds — the monies voters approved for youth-related programs as a portion of the city's general fund.
Among those leading the effort are community leaders Nicole Lee, Xiomara Castro, Julian Davis, Heather Box, Kanchan Haynes, Carla Dinn, Keith Spears, and Janet Foster.
Hip hop artists "Trinidad," Greg Grove, Lucion Waddel, "Franchise," Choas," Deangelo aka DNOC, Anthony Thomas and other talented and progressive performers are connecting with their peers on the streets — bringing them music, a message, and now a mandate for social change.
The movement is in line with the work now being done by others, including the LoveLife Foundation formed by Donald Lacy, whose daughter was slain in Oakland.
He was often critical of then-Mayor Jerry Brown. "No one cares about our youth, so we must," he has said.
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