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Articles, information and additional online resources. |
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Damian Hewitt (left), 14, and Randy Leonard (right), 15, are both students at Oakland's Castlemont High School and participants in the violence-prevention youth group Teens on Target. |
Hewitt on violence in Oakland:
"I live around the weed spot, the dope spot, where police are always coming over there. So it's like I live on a bad block. I used to tag on the walls, jump people for fun, take their money or whatever. I joined gangs and thought they had my back. But it really didn't make sense, because all they were doing was leading me to trouble, and my time was getting closer to me getting sent to jail. I found out about Teens on Target through a friend who said, 'You should come. Maybe it will help you.' And it has helped me get out [of] trouble and keep my mind in school. Now they have my back and I can trust that I have their support. And I can always go to them and talk to them if I have a problem."
Leonard on violence in Oakland:
"I always wanted to help my community. In Teens on Target we get to talk about things that happen in our community and ways to prevent violence. I've learned to think things out before you make a wrong decision. Like if someone disrespects you, you don't always have to get in a fight with them. You can always walk away. You just have to think it through. [Recently] I went to a violence-prevention workshop where there was a senator and a lot of public officials too, and I got a chance to talk to some of them. I've gotten the chance to go to King [Estates Middle School] and teach younger kids about violence. And there's a trip coming up in the summer to Washington, D.C., for a youth conference, and I want to try to go, because I want to speak up about violence. I'd like to see my people stand more together, instead of so many different gangs. If we stood together, we wouldn't be so divided."
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