My experiences as a young man searching for love and acceptance in the unforgiving streets of Detroit, and later, on prison yards throughout Michigan, shaped the man I am today and strengthen my resolve to become the mentor I wish I had to redirect my path as a youth. Many of our youth are yearning for the guidance and instruction of someone who understands their struggle and can relate to their story. I’ve been where many of them are and I know where that path leads, which is why I created “Heart of the Matter Youth Development Program,” a six-week program that uses my experiences as a launching pad for discussing issues of abuse, abandonment, addiction, consequences, emotional development, and personal transformation. Mentoring is where I’ve found purpose and meaning. During my incarceration, writing became my refuge and eventually became an excellent tool for reaching the young men I was incarcerated with, many of whom were searching for a father figure. When I wrote, I poured all of the emotions I was afraid to express to others for fear of being seen as weak onto the pages of my notebook. It is through writing that I unpacked the baggage from my childhood and addressed the anger that led me to commit the crime for which I served 19 years in prison. These writings form the basis of my mentoring program and is used to challenge participants to address their own issues and lay the foundation for mature emotional development. My work has helped me to understand that mentoring is more than preaching at our youth. It is about allowing them to feel free and safe enough to be children. To this end, I helped organize a skating fundraiser in April for the youth that I mentor. It was great to see the smiles on their faces and the hope in their eyes, knowing that someone cared about them. In the year that I have been home, I have worked with youth at the Detroit Job Corps, Henry Ford H.S., Osborn H.S., Cody H.S., Don Bosco Hall, and Tri-County Adult Education Center. I'm passionate about my work and am determined to be a positive role model and advocate for non-violence. Through my work, I have been able to encourage young men and women to stay in school, graduate on time, pursue their dreams and accomplish their goals. Wherever I am, I encounter one of the young men I’ve mentored and they update me on their progress and what our interactions have meant to them. These moments are priceless and remind me of why the work I do is so important.
Violence among Detroit youth has reached epidemic proportions, particularly gun violence. From gang-related shootings to random school shootings, gun violence has become normalized in our community. Far too many youth live in fear, and especially for young males, don’t expect to live beyond the age of eighteen. Through the use of digital media and literary arts, we will provide youth with the tools necessary to help counter the culture of violence that is prevalent in the city. The “Live In Peace Digital and Literary Arts Project” will empower youth to be change agents in their neighborhoods while teaching valuable skills in creative writing and visual arts. Ultimately, the “Live In Peace Digital and Literary Arts Project” will be facilitated by graduates of the program in neighborhoods throughout Detroit.
“Live in Peace Digital and Literary Arts Project” is a 12-week program led by Shaka Senghor. It is designed to create a critical dialogue among youth around issues such as abuse, abandonment, addiction, domestic violence, consequences, emotional development, and personal transformation. As facilitator, I will use my experiences as a launching pad and lead participants in exercises that will challenge destructive thinking patterns and behaviors and encourage peaceful resolution to life’s problems. Many of our youth are yearning for the guidance and instruction of someone who understands their struggle and can relate to their story. I’ve been where many of them are and I know where that path leads. I often reflect on the tragedy of my youth and the destructive path that led me to prison and realize that there is no greater time than now for me to use my voice and the power of digital media and literary arts to counteract the culture of gun violence that has robbed our youth of their innocence and holds our communities hostage. The program will follow the following timeline: Weeks 1 and 2 Reclaiming the Innocence of Childhood Weeks 3 and 4 Addressing the Causes and Consequences of Teenage Addiction and Violence Weeks 5 and 6 Victimization and Accountability Weeks 7 and 8 Prison Industrial Complex and the Impact of Incarceration on Families and Communities Weeks 9 and 10 Transforming Self, Transforming Others Weeks 11 and 12 Writing Freedom Each week, participants will read and discuss writings from “Live in Peace: A Youth Guide to Turning Hurt into Hope.” They will then be given an opportunity to write about and document their experiences using poetry, essays, photography and film. Short field trips will be incorporated to allow participants to shoot footage at a variety of locations across the city. At the end of the program, participants will compile all of their work and produce a digital media project and anthology of their writing. Through these two creative mediums, participants will highlight their experience and show how arts can be a catalyst for peaceful living.
“Live In Peace Digital and Literary Arts Project” is designed to help young men and women counter the culture of violence using the power of the pen and the camera. By writing about their fears and insecurities and documenting the impact of violence on their community from their unique perspective, they can become empowered to transform their lives and the lives of others. To this end, the goals of the program are: • To create a sacred space where participants can talk openly and honestly about their internal struggles and work to address unhealthy thinking and behavior. • To encourage the use of creative writing and videography as a means to document their experiences. • To produce an anthology of their writings • To produce a digital media project that showcases the transformative power of digital and literary art. • To promote a drug and alcohol-free lifestyle by providing a fun and educational alternative to recreational drug and alcohol use. • To train participants to facilitate the project in neighborhoods throughout Detroit utilizing the skills and techniques that they learn in writing, news gathering and videography.
up to $50,000
Shaka Senghor will lead and facilitate the program.
Youth engagement is at the heart of this project. While working as a reporter for The Michigan Citizen, I interviewed students at Cody High School about their daily experiences going to and from school. During these interviews, they shared stories of the violent encounters that they experienced daily en route to school. It was then that I realized how important it is for the community to hear stories from the youths’ point of view. Through their work each week in the program, the youth will be given the tools needed to work in their neighborhoods to build alliances with other youth and proactively challenge the destructive behaviors that lead to violence. The “Live In Peace Digital and Literary Arts Project” will also engage community leaders, elders, and parents who will get a chance to witness life through the eyes of some of the most vulnerable people in our community – our youth. By sharing their stories and documenting their experiences, the youth will engage the community in a much needed dialogue about living together peacefully and sharing responsibility for resolving the problems our community faces. The program will also prepare these peace ambassadors for careers in the digital media and journalism fields.