The deaths of Keylon Crayton's aunt and cousin happened six weeks apart, and broke his heart. The sadness he felt made it hard to think about his future, but the 12-year-old middle-school student wants to try, and a host of counselors and youth leaders wants to help.
Keylon was among more than 40 children attending When Healing Meets Hope, a camp for youth who have experienced the loss of a family member.
Monica Burke, program manager of East Chattanooga Improvement Inc., a community advocacy organization, organized the three-day overnight camp earlier this month at Booker T. Washington State Park.
She planned When Healing Meets Hope after noticing children in a group that her father organized called Healing on Both Sides. That group was focused on adults who had lost children to homicide. Burke noticed that the homicide victims often had children, and she wanted to help them.
What’s next?
› What: Movie Night (everyone welcome).› When: 6-8 p.m. Friday, Feb. 16.› Where: Avondale Youth and Family Development Center, 501 W. 12th St.
"What we don't want to do is we don't want to see those kids be angry, grow up and then retaliate because one of their parents were killed, so we said we need to help," she said.
Burke called together several youth leaders, including the Rev. Chris Sands from Olivet Baptist Church, former children's pastor Madaline McFarland and licensed professional counselor April Taylor, to provide round-the-clock therapy to children during the camp.
She didn't limit invitations to youth who lost family to violence but welcomed children who suffered any loss, including those who had family members incarcerated and those like Keylon, whose family members died of natural causes.
"It was absolutely amazing," said Sands about the camp. Young people shared feelings about their loved ones who died, and a lot of them formed relationships to share with someone when they're having struggles.
Counselors met youth with smiles and activities the moment they walked through the door.
"I came to have fun," said Keylon after meeting other youths his age.
The camp included bonfires, nature hikes and scavenger hunts. Youth participated in discussions about forgiveness and shared feelings for their deceased loved ones. They had a balloon release and also wrote their feelings in letters.
The more children express feelings productively, the better their behavior and chances of doing better in school, said organizers.
When Healing Meets Hope Camp is the start of an outreach that organizers want to continue, said Roslyn Tyler, East Chattanooga Improvement board member.
The group will host the next meeting for youth from 6 to 8 p.m. Feb. 16 when it has a movie night at Avondale Recreation Center.
The goal is to give children tools needed to process grief in a productive manner, said Tyler.
East Chattanooga Improvement Inc. partnered with CHI Memorial Hospital, Booker T. Washington State Park and Sound Living Counseling to sponsor the camp. Other sponsors included Chatt Town Ladies Investment Group, the Hamilton County Health Department and the Avondale Youth Family Development Group.
One child out of 20 will experience the death of a parent before reaching the age of 15, according to the California-based nonprofit Elevating Hope. Add the deaths of close family members and friends, and the odds increase to 1 in 5. Children who receive grief counseling are five times less likely to complete suicide and 10 times less likely to develop behavioral disorders.
Contact Yolanda Putman at yputman@timesfreepress.com or 423-757-6431.