08/14/2026
As an active mentor to a lot of the younger guys in our community I'm here to say that there is no one person to point the finger at here. What happened today has happened numerous times before this particular incident and it's unfortunate and heartbreaking. I personally know each individual who is allegedly involved in this incident because I had the privilege to coach and interact with these young men on a personal level.
Everyone has the right to their own opinion on things and situations but its hard for me to RESPECT people's opinions on situations like this when they aren't doing anything to help prevent things like this from happening. Just last year we had a similar situation occur and our city/community was hit hard. One young man was killed, 18 years of age and four others who were all 18 and under lost their freedom due to a crime and tragic mistake that they made. To me there are no suspects in these situations only victims. Victims of broken homes, neglect, the streets, no positive role models, gangs, society and so called rappers.
Once that incident happened everyone was on this blue app saying how we need to do this and that. Saying things like how the boys need mentors , how they need things to do to keep them out of trouble and out the streets, how they need people to talk to. Myself along with some more caring men and women created a platform just for that. I hosted numerous of meetings which gave the teenagers, young men, and adults a safe space to express their feelings, concerns, opinions and to just be around positive people that look just like them.
We have hosted meetings on gun safety and gun violence where I had a licensed CWP instructor donate his time and lead the meeting where he shared life changing stories and images that will make you think twice about mishandling or misusing a gun. I've taken the boys downtown to the city hall where there were police, lawyers, doctors, judges, fireman, entrepreneurs and more just to show them different career choices and to get a different perspective on certain situations and people.
We've had a specific meeting about Mens Mental Health where I had a licensed mental health counselor attend who shared stories and provided resources and opportunities for the boys and men to be able reach out and talk. I've had men volunteer their time who opened up and was vulnerable so that the young men who was there could not only hear but feel their pain about what they went through and overcame. I've also hosted regular meetings where I gave the young men a chance to fellowship, eat, relax, to just get away from their everyday life and be around people who are positive and really have genuine love for them.
I said all of that to say this. EVERYONE swear they want to help or make a difference but when its time to actually hold these kids accountable, NO ONE SHOWS UP except for the same few individuals. I make every meeting open to the public, ask everyone to bring a child who needs the mentoring, even offer rides but somehow the same handful or people always be the only ones to show up. It be more mothers bringing their son's than father's and more women dropping off boys than men . It's always the mothers reaching out about getting their son, nephew or someone they know involved in the program.
MEN we have to do better. We have to step up and take back control of our young men. We have to be the examples. We have to get them involved and surrounded by the right people even if they dont want to because they dont always know what's best. They might not realize it now but they will definitely appreciate it once they get older.
To the men and women who come to the meetings or play any part in making sure kids are there you know who you are, I wholeheartedly appreciated you for being you. Continue to keep loving with your genuine hearts and I hope that at the next meeting there will be more men there with more young men by their side. Love all ❤️
