Rape, shootings and illegal drug sales were among the activities youths said Thursday they wanted out of their community.
“Stop gang banging and shooting,” 10-year-old LaTony Word said.
LaTony was among about 40 youths, parents and organizers who gathered at the Avondale Recreation Center, where young people discussed their vision for East Chattanooga, the latest community in Chattanooga to receive a $1 million Weed and Seed grant.
The U.S. Department of Justice awards the grants to potentially high crime communities.
“There’s a lot of drug activity, and there have been some shootings,” said Willie McClendon, East Chattanooga Weed and Seed youth coordinator.
The goal is to use the money to weed out bad elements and seed in programs to make the community better.
James Moreland, East Chattanooga Weed and Seed steering committee chairman, hosted the meeting Thursday.
This gives organizers an idea of what young people face in everyday life, Mr. Moreland said.
Mostly youths attended the meeting. Organizers said their challenge is to attract more parents because children need their authority to act.
The majority of youths raised their hands when Mr. Moreland asked if they knew a rape victim or heard of a rape victim in their community.
The majority also raised their hands when asked If they knew at least two gang members.
Participants ranged from elementary to high school students.
Ronnie Cosper, 14, volunteered to be on a youth task force steering committee that would help plan activities.
“I want to see less poverty, like children with no shoes on and some people who can’t pay rent,” he said.
Students also discussed their vision for East Chattanooga.
“We want a skating rink,” 11-year-old Tridarious Gates said.
Tevin Walker, 9, said he wanted more money.
And 8-year-old Ashley Walker asked for a swimming pool.
Joe Rowe, who is designing the youth participation process, hopes to have another meeting with the youths before the end of the school year.
ACTIVITIES
Dance, karate and computer classes will be offered at Avondale and Glenwood centers for youth by mid-April.
For more information about the youth committee or youth activities, call Willie McClendon at 752-4449.
Yolanda Putman has been a reporter at the Times Free Press for 11 years. She covers housing and previously covered education and crime. Yolanda is a Chattanooga native who has a master’s degree in communication from the University of Tennessee and a bachelor’s degree in journalism from Alabama State University. She previously worked at the Lima (Ohio) News. She enjoys running, reading and writing and is the mother of one son, Tyreese. She has also ...
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