VOLUME 1 Martia, TOLD YOU SO ISSUE 4 November, 2013
Give'N Back
Who’s Helping You?
In each issue of my magazine I try to highlight those individuals doing some amazing things in their communities. As I was searching, I found something a little different; I found a lot more children on the streets getting into trouble than I did those being helped. According to a survey on the Center for Disease Control (CDC) website, homicide is the leading cause of death for ages 10-24, and let’s not forget the fact that students are buying guns, using drugs, skipping school, and causing havoc on society.
There is a national outcry for help to control our youth and get them on the right track. I find that children relate to those mentors who “don’t forget where they come from”.
Children, specifically troubled children, must see that you still understand the life that they currently live, and while it’s great to tell them the benefits of what hard work and education can do they need to see that you haven’t turned your back on the struggle that got you where you are; they need to know that you still get it. While I know individuals are volunteering to stop the violence among our youth, I also know a lot of the kids who need help aren’t seeking it and we aren’t going to find them either.
Recently, while looking at the five 2013 Do Something Award Nominees, I came across Daniel Maree, 25, from Florida. Maree grew up in a predominantly white neighborhood where he constantly felt racially profiled against and stereotyped, but he never reacted or did anything about it until 2012. In 2012 George Zimmerman shot and killed 16 year old TrayVon Martin. Martin was wearing a hoodie and walking at night; Zimmerman felt TrayVon was suspicious, one thing led to another, and Martin ended up dead. Months went by before national news picked up the case, but Maree was always working.
He started the Million Hoodies Movement for Justice to stand for amending the “Stand Your Ground” law in Florida, to give young people conflict resolution techniques and inform the public about all forms of profiling. Million Hoodies raised knowledge for Martin by collecting more than two million petition signatures to have Zimmerman arrested. Maree’s idea gathered 50,000 people across the country to participate in rallies. Currently, there are Million Hoodies chapters in 12 U.S. cities and many more to come.
We need more involvement in all of our communities to save all of our children.
By: Martia' Holloway
There is a national outcry for help to control our youth and get them on the right track. I find that children relate to those mentors who “don’t forget where they come from”.
Children, specifically troubled children, must see that you still understand the life that they currently live, and while it’s great to tell them the benefits of what hard work and education can do they need to see that you haven’t turned your back on the struggle that got you where you are; they need to know that you still get it. While I know individuals are volunteering to stop the violence among our youth, I also know a lot of the kids who need help aren’t seeking it and we aren’t going to find them either.
Recently, while looking at the five 2013 Do Something Award Nominees, I came across Daniel Maree, 25, from Florida. Maree grew up in a predominantly white neighborhood where he constantly felt racially profiled against and stereotyped, but he never reacted or did anything about it until 2012. In 2012 George Zimmerman shot and killed 16 year old TrayVon Martin. Martin was wearing a hoodie and walking at night; Zimmerman felt TrayVon was suspicious, one thing led to another, and Martin ended up dead. Months went by before national news picked up the case, but Maree was always working.
He started the Million Hoodies Movement for Justice to stand for amending the “Stand Your Ground” law in Florida, to give young people conflict resolution techniques and inform the public about all forms of profiling. Million Hoodies raised knowledge for Martin by collecting more than two million petition signatures to have Zimmerman arrested. Maree’s idea gathered 50,000 people across the country to participate in rallies. Currently, there are Million Hoodies chapters in 12 U.S. cities and many more to come.
We need more involvement in all of our communities to save all of our children.
By: Martia' Holloway