My day started by hearing news about another tragic – and yet – all too common occurrence in Baltimore. I received a text message from a dear friend letting me know that a 17 year old girl, Qurra Iqbal, was murdered this morning at her home which is directly across from her former middle school. My friend works at the middle school and the girl used to be one of her students. Not only was she murdered, but her mother who is a double-amputee was critically beaten as well and at the time of this writing is at Johns Hopkins Hospital fighting for her life.

This, according to the Baltimore Sun:

A 17-year-old girl was fatally stabbed in a Thursday morning attack that also left her 59-year-old mother in critical condition, one of three violent incidents in Northeast Baltimore over a 12-hour span, according to police.

Agent Donny Moses, a police spokesman, said investigators did not have a motive, but first-degree murder and attempted first-degree murder charges were pending.

It turns out that the girl’s cousin was the offender in this horrendous crime. It never fails to boggle my mind when I hear of such violent crimes in this city. It always flicks at the scab of my own experience of having a young family member and many young friends murdered in the town of my birth.

In addition to being close to some of the staff at the school; I also have young people at my church who attend Chinquapin Middle School. It’s a school that is special to me because of its proximity to my home and church. In fact, this January I’ll be joining with others to start a mentoring program for about 25 seventh grade boys there. As my 1 year old son gets older, it would be one of the public Middle School options that we have for him.

Leaving a clergy meeting this afternoon, I stopped by the school just to extend myself to any who might need support. Being that the crime scene is directly across the street from the front door of the school, I couldn’t help but to see the aftermath. Police tape. Investigators gathering evidence. Photographer. And curious middle school students peering out of a second-story window taking the entire scene in.

I couldn’t help, but wonder how I would be impacted if I was a student there and someone – and not just someone, but a former student – was murdered right across the street from the front door. Would I be thinking about learning? Would I feel safe? Would my teachers know what to say to me? Would I think it appropriate to cry? How would I process my emotions about the event?

After leaving my information with the office staff and speaking briefly with some of the residents, I walked out – again past the crime scene. My heart breaks that during this first week of Advent – a week where Christians begin the celebration of God’s Incarnation on earth – that such a despairing display of hatred and violence would break out.

I’m thankful to be a part of an effort in North Baltimore that is bringing together people of Faith, organizers, youth, educators, and other community members to expand our reach to the youth of this corner of the city and extend ourselves in love to them. We’re meeting again this Tuesday, December 8, 2009 1PM at my church, Pleasant Hope (430 E. Belvedere Avenue, 21212). All are welcome.

We must continue to respond. Each and every time violence attempts to characterize our communities or even our governments, there must always be a remnant that refuses to be afraid or apathetic. This remnant must be prepared to wage peace at every turn – from Baghdad to Afghanistan to Baltimore and every point in between.

My prayers go out to the affected family, school, and our community during this sorrowful time.

Not long ago, I shared an open letter that I sent to Delegate Keith Haynes in reference to a quote that he provided to the Baltimore Sun. In the Sun article, Haynes described the $100 million dollar expansion of prisons in East Baltimore as a “good investment.” I quickly wrote him and cc’d a handful of folks on the letter and a few days later we had the opportunity to talk.

He told me that there are two pots of money in the Maryland budgetary system – an operating budget and a capital budget. The operating budget, said Haynes, is the budget that is strained by a structural deficit. That’s the budget, he said, that is currently being shaved away more and more every year. The money for prisons is from the capital budget and the decision to construct new prisons in East Baltimore was made some time ago.

He agreed with me that investing in schools, mentoring programs, and other intervention strategies was more amenable than building more cells and locking people up. He also said that his quote for the Sun article was mischaracterized and so he appreciated an opportunity to speak to me directly about it. We ended the conversation by agreeing to work together and locate resources that would do more to help and lift people than punish and imprison them.

I’ll definitely keep this in mind as we head toward another General Assembly in January where the Legislature seems to be poised to expand its own version of the RICO laws. According to The Sun, members of the House of Delegates met to re-examine Maryland’s Anti-Gang statute. State prosecutors would like to strengthen state “anti-gang” measures by having judges add prison time if a person convicted of certain crimes was a part of a gang at the time of the crime. (How are they going to prove that?)

Here again – another display of energy and effort focused on how we can further criminalize people instead of heeding the findings of Think Tanks like Justice Policy Institute which suggests in a 2007 report that more energy needs to be directed toward promoting jobs, education, healthy communities, and lowering the barriers of reintegration into society for former gang members.

I look forward to redoubling my efforts to work with Delegate Keith Haynes and other elected officials, like longstanding justice advocate Delegate Jill Carter, in steering state resources toward community-building, cost effective public safety strategies.

Tonight, I’m looking forward to hanging out with the men and young men of the congregation that I serve. We’re going to The Charles Theater to view a special documentary presented by my brothers LaMarr Darnell Shields (Urban Leadership Institute) and local documentarian, Janks Morton (What Black Men Think).

The film is entitled “Men II Boys” and it provides insight, guidance, and challenges to Black boys AND the Black men who love them.

I realize that some of you will read this after today (April 14, 2009), but I would still strongly encourage you to visit their site and consider showing the film at your school, church, or community organization. There is also an accompanying book as well that unveils 101 things that every young boy of color needs to know.

Here’s a preview from the film:

A Baraka success story
Teenager talks about his life-changing experience at the school in Kenya
By Makeda Crane | Sun reporter
August 3, 2008

UniSun recently caught up with 18-year-old Devon Brown, one of 20 boys from the most crime-ridden neighborhoods in Baltimore who was chosen to attend the Baraka School in Kenya, a two-year experimental boarding school that was supposed to separate the students from their city lives in hopes that they would focus on their education while in Africa.

Brown is one of the success stories from the program. Last spring, he graduated from the Academy for College and Career Exploration. Later this month, he will attend the Maryland Institute College of Art on a full scholarship from the Abell Foundation, which also sponsored the Boys of Baraka project. He plans to major in film production.

Brown was the kid preacher featured in the 2005 documentary The Boys of Baraka. Although the school closed after one year due to political unrest in Kenya, it altered his life, he said.

Unlike many of his peers, Brown had the support of his grandmother, who encouraged him in his passion for preaching in the pulpit of Zion Baptist Church, which he began doing at an early age.

READ MORE

As I shared last month, I am a proud mentor in a program that serves incarcerated youth at the Charles Hickey School in Baltimore County. I’ve joined with four other strong brothers and we go to Hickey every Saturday for a strong 90 minute session – half youth develoment / half recreation.

The 15 (or so) young men that we mentor range between the ages of 15 and 18. Their charges are as petty as not completing community service as a stipulation of probation and as serious as selling narcotics and grand theft auto.

Because Hickey is a short term facility (supposed to be anyway), we only have about 5 weeks to positively impact the lives of these young men before they are moved out to a placement, another facility, or released back into the community.

We’ve been going strong now for two months and have learned much about the young men and ourselves. God has really blessed the mentors with great chemistry and comraderie. We all are 30 or younger, college educated, community-involved, married men – some with children. And all of us have a personal relationship with God that we do not hide from our mentees or staff. Prayer is a central part of our sessions and we stress to the young brothers that if they don’t have a spiritual connection with Almighty God that they will continue trafficking in the same hazardous circles that got them in Hickey in the first place.

Many of the brothers have expressed to us their appreciation of our volunteering in this way. One of the mentees that I’ve taken a strong liking to – Marcus – told me a few weeks back that his older brothers are incarcerated and that if he had older brothers like me and the other mentors he would have never ended up locked up.

Marcus and many other young men in our group have court dates coming up in January and we are praying for a favorable disposition. The mentors are writing letters of support for the young men and I’m personally going before the judge with Marcus to encourage his release. As a component of our program, we seek to provide re-entry services (employment, schooling, stable housing, etc.) as well once our little brothers are released.

Please pray for this ministry. There is a possibility for us to receive financial support very soon that would allow us to continue mentoring at a level that is greater than what we are able to do for 90 minutes on a Saturday.

Also, know that January is National Mentoring Month. Consider becoming a mentor to a young person that could benefit from the guidance of a caring adult.

To Black men especially – we MUST step up for Black boys – at whatever age, stage, or situation in which they find themselves. We can no longer allow anyone to rail on the depressing condition of Black boys without communicating how they are committed to support them. I’m almost to the point now where if you’re not doing something in a hands-on way to support youth, then I don’t want to hear your criticisms of them. As a matter of fact, just SHUT UP! Step up or Shut up.

Yea I know some of these children/youth have parents that didn’t do their job, BUT WHAT ARE YOU GOING TO DO?

Yea I know that some of these children/youth are not being served by their church, BUT WHAT ARE YOU GOING TO DO?

Yea I know that the school systems in Black neighborhoods by and large are not preparing our children/youth for gainful employment, BUT WHAT ARE YOU GOING TO DO?

Sure – state governments make plans to build prisons based on the reading levels of Black youth in 4th grade, BUT WHAT ARE YOU GOING TO DO?

Yes – the White Power Structure is real and has stacked the deck against Black youth, BUT WHAT ARE YOU GOING TO DO?

[INSERT YOUR FAVORITE EXCUSE FOR INACTION HERE], BUT WHAT ARE YOU GOING TO DO?

As a good brother told me a couple of weeks ago, mentoring has moved from “nice to necessity” and it’s time that we act with the same sense of urgency that author, Jawanza Kunjufu writes about in State of Emergency: We Must Save African American Males. Mentoring is not a panacea, but it is a foundational component of reclaiming the destiny of Black youth in America.

To find a mentoring opportunity near you, visit MENTOR/The National Mentoring Partnership. If you are already a mentor, share your experiences here in hopes that you will inspire someone else to get involved.

This past Resurrection Sunday, I joined about 4 other brothers in going inside the Baltimore City Juvenile Justice Center to lead a nontraditional worship experience for the young brothers who were incarcerated.  Spearheaded by Rev. Russell St. Bernard (who’s now serving as a Youth Pastor in FL), we had a wonderful time taking the gospel of Jesus Christ behind the bars of juvenile lockup.  Since that time, I’ve been itchin’ to get back behind bars to reconnect with young men in that situation.  I knew that though a one time visit was nice, if we were going to make a major impact we needed to establish a program that included weekly visits.

Thee one and only Ezekiel Jackson of Soul Cannon (SIDEBAR:This brother has a serious gift from God as an MC and musician.  Soul Cannon’s sound demands an international audience and I’m sure that a much larger platform is coming.  Support my Brother!) and I have been mulling over how we bring greater permanency to the idea of mentoring incarcerated youth since we both walked behind those bars on Easter Sunday 2007.  Then Anjelene Branch, Case Manager Supervisor from the Charles Hickey School called me looking for mentors.  Hickey is a state-owned facility operated by the Department of Juvenile Services providing alternative education options to detained youth ages 12-18.

God worked it out so that the same week that she called me with that request I was scheduled to go on 1010AM for the Pause for the Cause Radio show.  I made the request public over the mic and challenged men listening to pick up the phone and call me.  Larry Brown heard the interview and remembered that we had met each other on the basketball court last summer.  He called my God-Brother and got my number.  David Overton a.k.a. “O-V” had just completed mentor training with a mentoring organization that I’m connected to so when his college classmate from Coppin State – Larry Brown – called him telling him about me and the challenge to mentor at Hickey, he was all for it.  God really orchestrated our steps and tightened the loop on brothers that were already loosely connected.

After weeks of planning and preparation, the day finally came for us to begin our weekly mentoring sessions at Hickey.  This past Saturday, November 2nd was our first day.  I was excited and a little anxious not knowing what to expect.  The brothers and I had been praying and planning – thankful that God would use us to reach out to young brothers behind bars, but how would they receive us? 

We gathered at 9:30AM at the front gate and proceeded to make our way to the classroom.  Ms. Branch met us there and we had a short talk about what our plan was.  We are going to do weekly sessions every Saturday morning for 90 minutes.  Half of our time, we’ll focus on some topic to engage the brothers on and the other half we’ll spend playing basketball, working out, or doing some other type of physical activity. 

The moment finally came.  We were sitting in the classroom talking amongst ourselves when the brothers began to file in.  We greeted every brother – and every lil brother looked just like us.  And I shouldn’t say “lil” – some of the brothers were taller than us – well taller than me anyway.  We had young men ranging from 14 – 18 years old.  For the next 90 minutes we had our orientation and introductions.  We wanted the brothers to get a feel of who we are and we wanted to see who they were.  The session went far better than what I expected for a first encounter.  Usually, brothers are a bit slower in connecting to other brothers, but as things progressed everyone really seemed to open up.  One brother who is scheduled to be released this week even made sure to let the group know how much he appreciated us taking time away from our families on a Saturday to come and reach out to them.  He said, “I may never see ya’ll again because I’m about to get out, but I can tell this is going to be a good program and I appreciate ya’ll coming out.”  I could’ve broke down right there.  It’s amazing how quickly I became attached to the brothers.  About two of them are scheduled to be released this week so I made sure that they have access to my cell # so that I can link them to job and educational opportunities once they get out. 

That’s one of the features of our mentoring program.  We are going to stay connected to these young men even after they are released or transferred so that we can continue to provide support for their transition back into society.  An overwhelming number of them had multiple arrests and had been detained numerous times.  Larry, Eze, OV, and I plan to put a brick in the revolving door so that these young men find the path that will lead to them embracing their fullest potential.

I really look forward to next Saturday.  We have a great group of young men and I’m hopeful that God will continue to use us to be true mentors to them.

Kudos to Larry Brown, David Overton, Jr., and Ezekiel Jackson.  I really enjoy serving alongside these committed brothers.  We have a special chemistry and I’m honored to know men that are serious about reaching out to others despite the fact that they have families and many other responsibilities of their own.  So if you’ve read this far down the page, take a minute to let Larry, OV, and Eze know how much you appreciate them BEING (not talking) the change that they wish to see in the world! (Also, support David Overton, Jr. who has started a Christian clothing line called “Sons for Christ“.  Get at him for more information.  Support my Brother!)

Brothers, let’s MAN UP and be good fathers to our own and strong mentors to those young brothers who need our support!

You want to be a mentor?  Holla at me. (only serious inquiries please)

Anyway during my last year on the air, the station positioned myself and a good sisterfriend of mine named Rev. Myisha Cherry to host a new religious public affairs program called Faith In Action.  With our show we purposed to “build the bridge between belief and service.”  At Myisha’s suggestion, I started this blog to serve as the online version of the show.  When she suggested this, I had no idea what a blog was, but I liked the idea of conversing with our Sunday morning listeners during the week.  As it turned out, Faith In Action lasted only a little more than 1 year because of managerial shifts.  I, along with many others, were scrapped from the station as well, but the blog continued and eventually grew to this level because I had no other creative outlet.  So thank Rev. Myisha Cherry and a certain public radio station for the Faith in Action Online Blog as you know it today.

Ok Heber – why the history lesson?  Good question.

It appears that some things really do come right back on around again.  I am pleased to let you know that I am back on the radio in Baltimore!  I was first invited to be a co-host on 1010AM’s Pause for the Cause Radio Show.  The host of the show, Deacon K, had me on first as a guest and eventually extended the invitation to me to join them on the air on a regular basis.  I graciously accepted the offer.  Then, soon after Baltimore’s Jena 6 experience I received a call from Sen. Larry Young – host of the Larry Young Morning Show on 1010AM (talk radio).  He wanted myself and Minister Farajii Muhammad to join him for the last hour of his show on Friday mornings (9AM – 10AM).  I’ve been back on the air for about a month now and have really enjoyed myself and appreciate the opportunity.  Talk Radio really is exciting and demands that I think fast and read everything that comes across my face.  It is also an amazing platform to educate, inspire, and mobilize people on important issues.  For example, the first time I was on the Pause for the Cause Radio Show about a month and a half ago, I challenged men to mentor young males in our community.  As a result, men picked up the phone, got to me offline and this SaturdayI’m joining 4 other brothers in starting mentoring sessions at the Charles Hickey School (a Department of Juvenile Services facility for incarcerated young men).  That’s the power of Talk Radio – especially in the Black community.

 So here’s the run down of when I’m on the air in Baltimore.  I invite you to tune in and listen.  (Hopefully, the station will have online streaming soon so that those outside of the Baltimore area can take a listen as well.)

I’m on the Larry Young Morning Show / 1010AM every Friday morning from 9AM – 10AMwith the Coach and Minister Farajii Muhammad.

I’m on the Pause for the Cause Radio Show every other Thursday from 1:30PM – 2:30PM.  The next time I will be on the show is Thursday, November 8, 2007. 

ALL GLORY TO GOD FOR THIS – ANOTHER OPPORTUNITY TO SERVE MY GOD AND THE COMMUNITY!

There are all kinds of mentors needed for all kinds of boys and girls. Any caring adult can make a difference! But right now our greatest need is for African-American mentors, especially men. Sound like you or someone you know? Please don’t wait! Summer is the perfect time to sign up for mentoring. Please volunteer, tell a friend, or make a donation to support Big Brothers Big Sisters. Somebody needs you!

Patrick Mohan, Webmaster

African-American Mentors are Needed throughout America

Did you know that African-American boys are more likely to complete high school in prison than to attend college? Life is full of choices and challenges. And a mentor is a friend and role model who can help steer young people on the right path. Just an hour a week can be all it takes to mentor a young person. And it’s fun! Right now the community needs African-American men and women who want to make a difference. There are all kinds of ways to mentor, including one that’s perfect for you. Learn about all the ways you can be a mentor »

Meet the 2007 Big Brother of the Year! 

“What does it profit a man to gain the whole world but lose his soul?” Those are words that have guided Chuck Matthews his whole life. His parents’ example inspired him to give his best both in his career and in his personal life. And when his own two children were off to school, Chuck still wasn’t done giving. With patience, persistence, heart and soul, he’s been a consistent and caring Big Brother to his Little Brother Rico. Meet the 2007 Big Brother of the Year »

Reel in Some Fun with a Young Person —
You Might Get Hooked! 

Fishing is the perfect activity to share with a young person. There’s plenty of time to talk, and even catching a small fish is something to celebrate. Not an expert on fishing? It doesn’t matter! We’ve reeled in some sites that will tell you all you need to know about fishing.  Cast your line for fish and fun »

Bigs and Littles Hang with the Streetball Stars of
the AND1 Mix Tape® Tour

Just last week, Bigs and Littles from the BBBS Southeastern Pennsylvania agency got to meet, greet and mix it up with stars of the AND1 Mix Tape® Tour, a traveling streetball competition and exhibition phenomenon.  This marks the first of many exciting opportunities for Big Brothers Big Sisters as we partner up with AND1. Read more about this exciting new partnership »

Madison is done and Walter Fauntroy goes next.  Like a good preacher he makes a little joke before starting to warm up the crowd.  They chuckle and he proceeds. 

While he’s talking I get my stuff together.  I think I can pull this off impromptu style now.  It hits me in that moment that growing up in the Black Church prepared me for this.  All those times that I had to stand and welcome visitors, respond to the welcome, sing a lead on a song, or pray over the offering prepared me for speaking confidently in front of people.  Thank you Church! (I gotta give a nod to the Future Business Leaders of America Club in high school too.  Did I mention that I placed 2nd in the county in the Impromptu Speaking competition?)

Fauntroy hits his last statement and I inch up closer to the mic ready to do my thang. 

“Psst. Rev. Brown.  Here’s your paper.”

“Oh.  Thank you Sis. E.”, I whisper instantly relieved that I could read the words and focus on intonation. 

“Thank you for coming, Rev. Brown”, the chairwoman says, “but we’ve really got other bills to attend to this morning so I’ll ask that you make your comments brief please.”

“Madam Chairwoman I must keep my comments brief.  These two giants of social justice have said almost everything that I wanted to say 10 times more eloquently than I could ever say it”, I quipped.

I proceeded with my testimony cutting out much of what I had written to avoid redundancy.  I focused however on the fact that it was International Women’s Day.  I read an excerpt from a report by the international humanitarian group, Doctors Without Borders.  The piece I read came from a report entitled “The Crushing Burden of Rape: Sexual Violence in Darfur“.  I read about two girls – one 13 and the other 14 who were gang raped by 5 men while knives were being held to their necks.  I encouraged the council to remember the human beings caught up in this genocide – and particularly the women and children while they were considering the Darfur Divestment Bill.  My testimony appeared to be well received.

After the session, I walked out in the lobby and networked a bit with other Darfur advocates.  My senator colleague followed me out in the hall and started talking to me about the Death Penalty Repeal bill.  Senator said that she had good support for it from the PG County Ministers, but she needed more active support from the Baltimore Clergy.  I told her that I would pass on the information and remain in touch about the issue. 

Then I caught up with Mr. Joe Madison, his lovely wife, and Rev. Walter Fauntroy.  I thanked them profusely for their testimony and reminded Rev. Fauntroy about the Virginia Union connection.  He remembered preaching there during my graduation weekend.  I told them about my having a personal meeting with Wyatt Tee Walker and I asked them to remember me as they continued to advocate on this issue.  It was great being in their company.  I asked if they would be coming back later for the 12noon press conference for the Darfur bill.  Madison said he would try, but Fauntroy couldn’t make it.  We shook hands and parted ways.

I ran back to the car and got back on the highway headed for Baltimore.  I had a 10AM meeting with community leaders and folks from the Johns Hopkins Center for the Prevention of Youth Violence. 

I arrived at the meeting and greeted colleagues that I have been working on this issue with for some time now.  I shared with them how I just had the amazing experience of testifying in support of the Darfur Divestment bill alongside Joe Madison and Walter Fauntroy.  I was still on cloud 1 million. 

Then I go to cloud 2 million when one of the sisters present says, “That’s so good that you participated at that hearing.  I was born in Khartoum.” [Capital of Sudan]

ARE YOU KIDDING ME?????????

I do not believe in coincidence.  That moment was orchestrated.  Here I am advocating for people that I may never meet and a sister born in Sudan just happens to be at my second meeting of the day??!!  OK – you can call it coincidence if you want, but I ain’t buying it.  We promise each other that we’ll grab coffee or something one day to discuss her upbringing. 

The meeting about youth violence in Baltimore goes well.  There was a really good sister there who kept us men in the room focused on why we were there.  There’s some really exciting things coming down the pipe related to halting the flow of youthful blood in the streets of Baltimore.  If all goes as planned, the Faith community will play an integral role in the action.  I peek at my clock and realize that I have to go.  The Darfur press conference is calling me.

I bid everyone adieu and race to the vehicle.  I have to pick Dr. William Calhoun up from the church.  As the president of the Interdenominational Ministerial Alliance of Baltimore & Vicinity, he was asked by Senator Jones to be present at the press conference.  I offered to pick him up and serve as his chaffeaur.  I looked forward to the time.  We needed to catch up on IMA stuff being that I am the 1st vp and we hadn’t been in dialogue in a few weeks because of busy schedules. 

Of course it was 11:40 when I picked him up at the church and of course that meant that I would be racing once again down toward Annapolis.  I keep a calm, cool, and collected outer shell as I push the gas and race the streets to get that man to the mic. 

That day his church operated a food kitchen so he brought me a sandwich.  I had an extra water so I gave him a drink.  See – intergenerational partnership….lol.

I got him down to Annapolis in time and rushed him to the front door.  We stood together during the press conference with the MD’s Leutienant Governor, state comptroller, state treasurer, Joe Madison, and others.  Dr. Calhoun spoke wonderfully as usual and put religious significance on this political event. 

On the way back to Baltimore we chatted for a bit and then I pulled out my ipod and together we listened to a classic sermon entitled “Seeing our hurts with God’s eyes” preached by Dr. Calhoun’s good friend, Dr. Gardner C. Taylor.

As I cruised up the road and Calhoun enjoyed a highway nap, the soothing yet provocative sound of Taylor’s preaching served as inspirational benediction to a long day of advocacy.

We pulled up to the church. 

“Alright, buddy.  Thank you for testifying this morning and for coming to pick me up.”

“It was my pleasure, Doc.  Thanks for coming.”

He returned to his car and I drove off into the sunset thankful that God decided to use me in that way that day. 

When the situation in Darfur looks to bleak to change and frustration with American apathy swells in my soul, I’ll remember days like this and encourage myself not to get weary in well doing for in due season we all will reap if we faint not. 

Thank you for riding along with me and sharing my story of a truly fascinating day for Darfur.

Day for Darfur Pt. 1

Day for Darfur Pt. 2