Hug Don't Shoot

10/14/2026

💜💜💜 HAPPY BIRTHDAY, Patrice Meekins ! 💜💜💜

🌸 SOMETIMES YOU HAVE TO GIVE PEOPLE THEIR FLOWERS WHILE THEY CAN STILL SMELL THEM! 🌸

Today, I want to celebrate a woman who has been part of my Hug Don't Shoot journey for nine years.

PATRICE MEEKINS! 💐💜

I met Patrice Meekins years ago at Empowerment Temple. At the time, neither one of us could have imagined the journey ahead of us or how Hug Don't Shoot would eventually connect our lives.

When I started Hug Don't Shoot, Patrice signed up to volunteer.

And I'm going to tell y'all something...

I DIDN'T EVEN THINK SHE WAS GOING TO SHOW UP! 🤣🤣🤣

But baby, SHE SHOWED UP!

And not only did she show up, SHE KEPT SHOWING UP! 💜

Over the years, I've had the privilege of watching this woman transform right before my eyes.

I remember a shy Patrice. A woman who probably didn't even realize the strength, confidence, and greatness she had inside of her.

But look at her NOW!

The woman I once wondered would even show up to volunteer eventually took HUG DON'T SHOOT ALL THE WAY TO WINSTON-SALEM, NORTH CAROLINA! 🙌🏽💜

Let that sink in!

Something that started right here in Baltimore, Maryland, found another home because this woman believed in the mission.

And I'll never forget when Hug Don't Shoot had its poster displayed at BWI Airport.

PATRICE FLEW FROM NORTH CAROLINA TO BALTIMORE JUST TO SEE THAT POSTER! 😭💜

Now THAT'S love!

That's dedication!

That's somebody who understands that what we're doing is bigger than any one person.

But what makes me most proud isn't just what Patrice has done for Hug Don't Shoot.

IT'S WHO I'VE WATCHED HER BECOME!

I've watched her find her voice.

I've watched her grow in confidence.

I've watched her become a stronger woman.

And I've watched her recognize that she has something valuable to offer this world.

AND LET ME NOT FORGET... 🤣🤣🤣

I've also watched you raise your son from a handsome little kid named NOAH to a handsome, respectable young man named DORIAN! 🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣

But seriously, Patrice, watching you grow as a woman AND a mother has been just as beautiful as watching everything you've accomplished with Hug Don't Shoot.

Sometimes we meet people and have absolutely no idea how important they'll become in our lives.

Patrice, you are one of those people.

And I hope you know that while you were helping me build Hug Don't Shoot, I was watching YOU build something just as important.

YOURSELF! 💜

Today, I don't want to wait until there's a special ceremony, an award, or some grand occasion to acknowledge you.

Your BIRTHDAY is reason enough!

Thank you for believing in something I was still figuring out myself.

Thank you for showing up when I wasn't even sure you would. 😂

Thank you for carrying the mission beyond Baltimore.

And most importantly, thank you for being YOU!

HAPPY BIRTHDAY, PATRICE MEEKINS! 🎂🎉💐

I'm proud of the woman you've become, and I hope you never stop growing, learning, loving, and discovering just how powerful you really are.

You deserve an ENTIRE FLORIST, not just a bouquet! 💐💐💐

And if there's one thing these nine years have taught me, it's that our Hug Don't Shoot motto is more than just words:

"THE HUG YOU GIVE JUST MIGHT BE THE HUG YOU NEED." 💜

Love you, Patrice!

Val Jenkins
Founder, Hug Don't Shoot 💜

P.S. AND HAPPY BIRTHDAY TO HER TWIN SISTER, Cherise Meekins , TOO! 🎂💐💜🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣

LOVE Y'ALL BOTH! 💜

10/09/2026

Gm, I've always taught Tierre and Khloe the importance of Helping others via Volunteering.

School, Work, Volunteering in that Order!!!!!

I have to admit that I've became further in the success rank than my education should have taken me.

But I've always been determined to be successful regardless of my upbringing.

Having Dinner with the 1st African American 1st Lady of the United States, not only walking into the White House for 10 years didn't have anything to do with my Education or my job

Bring the 1st Non-Profit Hometown Hero in history had nothing to do with my education or work ethics

And this is just a few..... .but let me spin this

My Right Now situation of no longer working and no income ....

Didn't come from lack of Income or work history
Because I had all my ducks in order more than a person with a PHD

THE SYSTEM LET ME DOWN DUE TO MY HEALTH
because I also had everything in that area in Order

ALL OF THE ABOVE

Came from my PHD - Park-Heights Degree

I learned to be Nice to others , Learned to Work Hard and Volunteer
Don't chase Monry, Chase SUCCESS

Help others, while you're learning and don't save for a rainy Day but Save for a Storm

The School Requires 75 hours, I require double

10/09/2026

* THEY * are Streaming Live Executions but
* WE * don't want to stop Un-Aliving * US *

Hol'up Way'Min

WE can't say KILL on Social Media but they can Stream Executions

MAKE THIS MAKE SENSE

🤬🤬🤬🤬🤬🤬🤬🤬🤬🤬🤬🤬🤬🤬🤬🤬🤬🤬

10/08/2026

https://www.facebook.com/share/p/1J7G8yCiyL/

A senior official with Baltimore’s Mayor’s Office of Neighborhood Safety and Engagement (MONSE) supported Tyree Reynolds’ request last year for a reduced prison sentence, telling a judge the agency would help him get a job, housing, and therapeutic support after his release.

Reynolds had been sentenced to 15 years in prison for a 2021 shooting, with all but eight years suspended. A judge in Aug. 2025 reduced the active portion of his sentence to five years, which he served before being released Sept. 25.

📸: Courtesy

10/08/2026

10/08/2026

Listen.......I was outside todayyyyy...💜💜💜💜🙏🙏🙏🙏🙏🙏🙏🙏🙏🙏

/ Provided for 3 Different organizations today

I helped an Elderly man who fell and now Promoting 2 FAITHFUL Leisa Fowlkes and Lila Arthur who both have cleaning businesses

If yall remember about 2 month ago We had a back to School event and the Teenager from Afghanistan asked if he can help us???

Well his Sis also have a Cleaning business in
GlenBurnie Area

It's enough business and homes in Glenburnie, Baltimore City and Baltimore County to promote for everyone.