Toriq Q. Johnson Sr., father of five, saw his third child born into the world. And it was that son who lay in his front yard dying on March 14 after being shot five times.
Johnson says his boy was 19 years old and full of dreams when he died.
Toriq Jr. wanted to be a rapper and electrician, but he got tangled in selling drugs and was killed. He is one of 28 homicides this year. Like Toriq Jr., half of the people killed this year are under age 25.
Johnson plans to start the Dreams Come True Foundation in his son's memory this month.
"My goal is to be able to help out in the community and to give jobs to young men that's growing up in the new generation," Johnson says. "To break hereditary curses and cycles that have come up in the households."
If you go
› What: Dreams Come True Foundation launch during the Alton Park reunion picnic.› When: 10 a.m.-3 p.m. Saturday.› Where: Milliken Park, 100 W. 45th St.› Email: Toriqjohnsonsr38@gmail.com.
Toriq Johnson, 41, is starting a foundation in memory of his son, Toriq Q. Johnson, Jr., who was shot to death in March.
Toriq Johnson, 41, is starting a foundation in memory of his son, Toriq Q. Johnson, Jr., who was shot to death in March.His first step is to raise money. He wants to pay youth a stipend for learning trades in construction and cosmetology.
He plans to launch the foundation at the Alton Park reunion picnic on Saturday at Milliken Park and accept donations there.
Tony "Montana" Morgan also helped to organize the event and seeks to help youth.
Several community members support Johnson's vision and efforts to bring the Alton Park community together.
Roger's Super Market is donating food for the picnic. Another friend is bringing a game room on wheels.
Johnson's goal is to keep other youth from the streets by mentoring them and teaching them to build. The profits will go back into the organization to help youth continue their education.
"My foundation is about raising kids so they will be able to take care of their household and paying them what they're worth so there will be no corruption and it will turn the world around," he says.
He's a certified HVAC technician and will teach that skill to youth. He's also friends with several contractors who will teach other construction skills. And he's connected with cosmetologists willing to show youth how to do hair.
Ricky Hinton, a former supervisor at Steel Warehouse Co., will talk with principals to recruit students.
"We're focusing on those who are troubled," says Hinton.
He also plans to recruit men getting out of jail and want to work.
"I've been in that situation," says Hinton. "I've changed, and if we had started this a long time ago, family members in the same situation wouldn't be there."
Some people don't have parents, and organizers of the Dreams Come True Foundation want to be big brothers and sisters to those people.
Johnson also went to prison for five years when Toriq Jr. was 13, leaving his son without his father's guidance. He says it took at least six months to rebuild their relationship after he was released.
"I had to go through in slow motion with him because of the pain he was in while I was incarcerated," says Johnson.
But within a year of Johnson being out of prison, his son got his driver's license and a car and a job at FedEx. He also got his GED and enrolled at Chattanooga State Community College and studied to be an electrician at his father's suggestion.
Johnson says he first started working on his son about his appearance.
"Once I got a hold to him, I asked him, son can I start off by grooming you first. Let me cut the dreads off. Let me give you a different appearance, and if people don't say you look handsome or compliment you, then we'll go back to the dreads."
"He came back," his father remembers. "He said, 'Man, I like this.'"
But then he got caught up selling marijuana.
"And I told him, son, that ain't for everybody," Johnson says. "Everybody is not meant to be a hustler."
Contact Yolanda Putman at yputman@timesfreepress.com or 423-757-6431.