Community groups work together to stop the violence
SEATTLE -- There's no question that teen violence needs to stop. Several local community groups say they know how: Work together, no matter where you live.
"Violence is mobile," said Rev. Steve Baber. "It will not be contained forever in one community."
Reverend Steve Baber at Skyway Methodist Church knows. He's counseled kids all over the Puget Sound region, not just in Seattle. After several weekend shootings, he spent most of his day at the hospital, counseling families of the shooting victims.
"Every time we hear of a child dying in our community it touches us deeply because we know what those mothers are going through," said Hazel Cameron.
Cameron knows. Her son was beaten at a senior party. He was in a coma for five years before he died.
"We've got to end this," she says.
Cameron, Rev. Baber and Roland Akers all work to end it. They run a group called 4Cs - Clergy, Community, Children Coalition. They take kids in the court system and match them with mentors.
"I know that we can do something that we can make a difference, but everybody said these kids are bad we're still going to have a problem," Akers said.
Rev. Baber added: "They're young people; they're children and they're making mistakes and we need to look at what we can do to make sure those mistakes are not deadly to them and to others."
Others hope to catch kids before they ever end up in court.
"These shootings are a call to action," said James Kelly, with the Urban League.
The action already started with the Urban League, several months ago. Kelly shared some notes and letters, in which local kids really spell out their fears.
A young man wrote his principal, asking if he should join a gang. He wrote that he did not want to be the next victim killed.
"And this is a 7th grader who believes that his only option is to join a gang," Kelly said.
The Urban League is working to weave a net of groups together to make sure no child falls through.
The 4C group at Skyway church holds monthly dinners to bring families together with mentors and other professionals who can help them.
If you need help in your family - it's there for you. Or if you'd like to help the violence, choose a group to volunteer your time.
In Seattle:
4C: Clergy, Community, Children Coalition
11800 Renton Avenue South
206-772-1434
www.the4ccoalition.org
Atlantis Street Center
2103 S Atlantic Street
206-329-2050
www.atlanticstreet.org
Casey Family Programs
1300 Dexter Avenue North, Floor 3
206-282-7300
www.casey.org
Children's Crisis Outreach Ministries
2100 24th Avenue south, suite 260
206-461-3222
www.metrokc.gov
Emerald City Outreach Ministries
7728 Rainier Avenue South
206-722-2052
urbanimpactseattle.org
Harborview Center of Sexual Assault and Traumatic Stress
1401 East Jefferson, 4th Floor
206-744-1600
depts.washington.edu/hcsats
Metro YMCA Street Soldiers / Alive & Free
909 4th Avenue
206-382-5345
www.seattleymca.org
Mount Calvary Church
1412 23rd Avenue
206-860-6880
mccccogic.com
Rainier Beach Family Center
8825 Rainier Avenue S
206-723-1301
Sound Mental Health
2719 E. Madison, Suite 200
206-302-2300
www.smh.org
Southeast Youth & Family Services
3722 South Hudson Street
206-721-5542
In Everett:
Families and Friend of Missing Personas & Violent Crime Victims
800-346-7555
www.fnfvcv.org
"Violence is mobile," said Rev. Steve Baber. "It will not be contained forever in one community."
Reverend Steve Baber at Skyway Methodist Church knows. He's counseled kids all over the Puget Sound region, not just in Seattle. After several weekend shootings, he spent most of his day at the hospital, counseling families of the shooting victims.
"Every time we hear of a child dying in our community it touches us deeply because we know what those mothers are going through," said Hazel Cameron.
Cameron knows. Her son was beaten at a senior party. He was in a coma for five years before he died.
"We've got to end this," she says.
Cameron, Rev. Baber and Roland Akers all work to end it. They run a group called 4Cs - Clergy, Community, Children Coalition. They take kids in the court system and match them with mentors.
"I know that we can do something that we can make a difference, but everybody said these kids are bad we're still going to have a problem," Akers said.
Rev. Baber added: "They're young people; they're children and they're making mistakes and we need to look at what we can do to make sure those mistakes are not deadly to them and to others."
Others hope to catch kids before they ever end up in court.
"These shootings are a call to action," said James Kelly, with the Urban League.
The action already started with the Urban League, several months ago. Kelly shared some notes and letters, in which local kids really spell out their fears.
A young man wrote his principal, asking if he should join a gang. He wrote that he did not want to be the next victim killed.
"And this is a 7th grader who believes that his only option is to join a gang," Kelly said.
The Urban League is working to weave a net of groups together to make sure no child falls through.
The 4C group at Skyway church holds monthly dinners to bring families together with mentors and other professionals who can help them.
If you need help in your family - it's there for you. Or if you'd like to help the violence, choose a group to volunteer your time.
In Seattle:
4C: Clergy, Community, Children Coalition
11800 Renton Avenue South
206-772-1434
www.the4ccoalition.org
Atlantis Street Center
2103 S Atlantic Street
206-329-2050
www.atlanticstreet.org
Casey Family Programs
1300 Dexter Avenue North, Floor 3
206-282-7300
www.casey.org
Children's Crisis Outreach Ministries
2100 24th Avenue south, suite 260
206-461-3222
www.metrokc.gov
Emerald City Outreach Ministries
7728 Rainier Avenue South
206-722-2052
urbanimpactseattle.org
Harborview Center of Sexual Assault and Traumatic Stress
1401 East Jefferson, 4th Floor
206-744-1600
depts.washington.edu/hcsats
Metro YMCA Street Soldiers / Alive & Free
909 4th Avenue
206-382-5345
www.seattleymca.org
Mount Calvary Church
1412 23rd Avenue
206-860-6880
mccccogic.com
Rainier Beach Family Center
8825 Rainier Avenue S
206-723-1301
Sound Mental Health
2719 E. Madison, Suite 200
206-302-2300
www.smh.org
Southeast Youth & Family Services
3722 South Hudson Street
206-721-5542
In Everett:
Families and Friend of Missing Personas & Violent Crime Victims
800-346-7555
www.fnfvcv.org