1^st Annual “RAISING TO ERADICATE GUN VIOLENCE” AT LAUREL RACEWAY

7^TH RACE NAMED FOR ROOT

 

 

It was a sunny day with a slight chill in the air with sounds of hooves and equine breaths and whinnies heard in the distance.  Such was the moment on February 28 when ROOT members and supporters watched the seventh race of the day dedicated in support of our Guns Aside Campaign.  As the winning jockey and horse crossed the line all were filled with pride.  ROOT awarded a plaque to the winning jockey in remembrance of its first annual “Racing to Eradicate Gun Violence” held at Laurel Race Park in Laurel, Maryland.  ROOT was honored with the presence and support of the National Organization of Black Law Enforcement Executives (NOBLE) and owes them many thanks as well to the Maryland Turf Association.  Both organizations made financial contributions.  Special thanks are owed to the Chestnut Brothers for their rousing and vibrant musical performance as well as to ROOT volunteers and supporters who attended and donated their time and monies.

 

 

 

 

Winning jockey is presented with trophy and t-shirt in winner's circle.

 

Guests in attendance dance to "Stop the Violence" performed by the Chestnut Brothers.

 

 

 

ROOT in collaboration with Howard University, Dr. Edgar Cahn of the University of the District of Columbia School of Law and the Time Dollar Institute, Dr. Maxwell Manning of the University of Maryand, and Dr. Christopher Thompson of the Boston Police Department applied for a grant from the Center for Disease Control Grant to develop a model for reducing youth violence and homicide at the community level.  Countless hours of work from representatives of each organization were dedicated to completing this most important and necessary task, thank you all.  Kudos in particular to Dr. Arvilla Payne-Jackson and Dr. Roderick Harrison, of Howard University, Dr. Cahn, Dr. Jackson's graduate student, Ajeenah Haynes, and to Mr. Barnes for their commitment to the success of the project.

 

January 31, Mr. Barnes testified at a joint public oversight hearing on juvenile homicides before the Council of the District of Columbia Committee on Education, Libraries, Recreation, Judiciary, and Human Services.  Mr. Barnes stated that there needs to be more accountability and oversight with social service agencies as well as a reduction of the apathy that comes from the top down and the bottom up.  His most critical statement was of the lack participation of government officials collaborating with community leaders – how can one address a problem with no inside knowledge of the issues. 

 

As a result of his testimony, in March Mr. Barnes met with several Councilmembers to further discuss how ROOT and its Guns Aside/Community in Action program is an excellent way to reach youth through subliminal messaging and gather the community to take interest in helping to solve their own problems. Mr. Barnes met with Councilmembers Jim Graham, Adrian Fenty, Linda Cropp, and Kathy Patterson during the first week of March.

  

March 9 ROOT awarded students of Hart Middle School for their participation in the WB 50 PSA taping of “Dying Too Young” now airing thru June. Essay winners of the Guns Aside Contest were also awarded savings bonds.

 

March 17 ROOT and other organizational members met with Chief Ramsey for the Homicide Task Force Meeting.  There was discussion concerning the need for new recruits and detectives to receive empathy training for when dealing with families of homicide victims as well as a stronger coordination of resources for covictims of homicide.  ROOT Inc. and the Wendt Center are collaborating on an initiative to address these very needs.

 

March 22 Mr. Barnes spoke to an audience of Baltimore city health officials and practitioners and uninsured 19-64 year old black males from Baltimore, about the importance of a "Healthy Community.”

March 31, MPD released its report on homicide prevention strategy and reported that working with ROOT and other community activist and survivor organizations such as No Murders DC and Survivors of Homicide was necessary and an essential part of community outreach. http://www.dcwatch.com/police/050331.htm#5.

 

April 2, Mr. Barnes and Councilmember Jim Graham were honored with the Public Service Award by Washington DC Chapter of the National Organization of Black Law Enforcement Executives (NOBLE) at their annual Scholarship Ball.  NOBLE wished two recognize the two for their “dedication, personal commitment, and distinguished service in enhancing the quality of life in the Washington, DC area.”

 

 

Mr. Barnes is presented award by NOBLE Local Chapter President Jack Boyd.

 

April 10 Each year the Office of Victims of Crime, the Office of Justice Programs of the United States Department of Justice helps lead communities across the country in their observances of National Crime Victims’ Rights Week.  The annual commemoration promotes victims’ rights and services in all sectors of our society.  This year’s ceremony marks the 25^th observance of National Crime Victim’s Rights Week, first proclaimed by President Reagan in 1981 – http://www.ojp.usdoj.gov/ovc/ncvrw/welcome.html.

 

The Office of Community Affairs in the Executive Office of the Mayor, The Office of Victim Services of the District of Columbia, the Metropolitan Washington Police Department, the Department of Health for the District of Columbia, The National Organization of Black Law Enforcement Executives (NOBLE) and WPGC Radio (95.5 FM) in collaboration with ROOT, The Ozziddi Project, the Wendt Center, victim rights organizations, service providers to victims of crime, the faith community, and community based organizations joined together at the Lincoln Theater on Sunday, April 10 to recognize, and begin, National Crime Victims’ Rights Week. 

 

The following article extracted from News Dimensions written by gives a vivid recount of the days activities.

 

APRIL 15 - APRIL 21 2005 NEWS DIMENSIONS Page 5

The U Street corridor was full of excitement on Sunday with the reverberating sounds of the Anthony Bowen YMCA Marching Tigers Band. The Band, escorted by Inspector Diane Groomes and the 3rd District Police Depart­ment, held up traffic as it wound its way from the Bowen YMCA on 13th & W St to the historic Lincoln Theater on U St.

Collaboration between ROOT, Inc, the Wendt Center, and the Ozziddi Proj­ect, helped to launch the 25th Annual Celebration of National Crime Vic­timʼs Rights Week for the city. The event, according to all who participat­ed and attended, was a huge success. Over 600 residents of the city partici­pated and enjoyed an evening of song, spoken word, poetry from students of Charles Hart Middle School, out­standing performances by the cast of players from the Ozziddi Project, a poignant soirée by the Latin American Youth Dancers, spoken word perfor­mances by 5th L from Baltimore and Sir Reigns, the Chestnut Brothers from Philadelphia singing “Stop The Violence”, and a breathtaking display of dance by the Northeast Performing Arts Studio dancers.

Set up in the lobby of the Lincoln were representatives from various victims rights organizations and service providers throughout the city, to include Survivors of Homicide, No Murders DC, RAPP, Inc, Survivors of Homicide, RAPP Inc, the Wendt Center, the Health Department, Tale of the Tape Foundation, the Latin Ameri­can Youth Center, the Washington DC Chapter of Parents of Murdered Children, the Clergy Police Response Team, the Family Liaison Unit of the Metropolitan Police Department, the International Association for Heal­ing Values, representatives from the Metropolitan Police Department, the Office of Victim Services, the Of­fice of Victims of Crime, all giving information to the community about services provided for victims.

The day began with a parade through the U Street corridor featuring the Anthony Bowen YMCA Marching Tigers. A more audacious, preco­cious group of youngsters you will not find anywhere. They dazzled the U street corridor with their footwork, their dance steps, and their costume. Traffic stopped and motorists honked their horns in appreciation; pedestri­ans stopped and clapped their hands in glee; children fell in and marched with their parents along with the bond.

Though the event was supposedly cosponsored by various entities of the District Government, including the Mayorʼs Outreach office, curiously absent were representatives of the city government. Trisha Gentle, Direc­tor, Office of Victim Services, had a ceremonial proclamation to deliver but was inadvertently left off of the program.

The one Council member present, Kwame Brown, Council Member At Large, stated in his remarks that it was an embarrassment and a disgrace to the city that such an event took place in spite of lack of participation and support by local government. Council member Brown was further dismayed when he found that the entire event received no funding from the govern­ment, even though the government was listed and included as a partner.

When interviewed by this reporter, Kenneth E. Barnes, Sr., MS, President and founder of ROOT, Inc, had this to say – Needless to say, though I am somewhat disappointed in the lack of support shown by our city, and by the most of the local media as well, that had nothing to do with the caliber of the event or the success of the occa­sion. It is this type of proactive cel­ebration that our community longs for, rather than waiting for some tragedy to occur for everyone to react.

 

Children march to show their support of stopping the violence and murders in their neighborhood for the 25th Annual Celebration of National Crime Victims Rights Week.

 

 April 14 Mr. Barnes was a part of a panel discussing youth violence on BET’s Cousin  Jeff Chronicles, hosted by Jeff Jones at the Temple of Praise Church.

 ROOT collaborates with "40 Days" of Increased Peace

This is a "shout out" to
Faith-based Organizations & Service Providers
working East of the River

The Calendar for youth, young adults and family activities during

“40 Days” of Increased Peace

will be released in June 8, 2005.  To include your activities please fax your information to 202.232.6983 or email to abigail@saintly.com 

The cut off date is May 31, 2005.

 

To learn more about “40 Days” contact

East of the River Clergy Police Community Partnership

at 202.373.5767 or Reverend La Verne Harley at 202.271.7519.

 

This is a ERCPCP and MPD joint project coordinated through Abigail.

 

 Lead Partners:

Boys & Girls Clubs of Greater Washington, Church Community Partners Against HIV/AIDS, DC Parks & Recreation, East of The River Clergy Response Team, Egypt Ophelia Clinic, Heaven 1580 AM, HIV/AIDS Administration, No Murders DC, ROOT, Sankofa Baptist Church International, Seventh District Metropolitan Police, Sisters With A Throttle Motorcycle Club, Sixth District Metropolitan Police, Slam Your Stress,  MPD Office of Youth Violence Prevention, MPD Regional Operations Command East, Weed & Seed, WPGC FM