"Emanuel, possession of a gun." "Elijah, armed robbery." One after another, young men - some barely in high school - stood up and admitted their felonies in front of a group of 34 of their peers.
The next day, a different group of men between the ages of 20 and 50 walked around a neighborhood handing out flyers and encouraging residents to think of ways to bring an end to gun violence.
"You're in the right neighborhood," one resident said after looking at the flyer. These are just two of the many outreach groups working towards a reduction of gun violence in Philadelphia. The young men admitting their felonies are between the ages of 14 and 18 and have been given court orders to participate in a program called Don't Fall Down in the Hood. The second group is made up of volunteers and is known as Men United for a Better Philadelphia. (MUBP)
MUBP tries to support families affected by gun violence and provide education for youths in troubled areas. In addition to getting involved in community rallies, MUBP members gather on Wednesday nights to patrol neighborhoods that have been affected by gun violence.
"This is a personal mission for us," MUBP co-founder Ray Jones said. "This is real."
On their patrols, the group hands out flyers and speaks to community members about their situations. They encourage the youths they encounter to look for jobs and provide them with information on job possibilities.
The group visits communities based on police requests. According to Jones, the group will stay in a given community for six to eight weeks and will patrol every Wednesday.
"We are a presence," Jones said.
Don't Fall Down in the Hood is a city-funded program in Philadelphia. Young men and women ages14-18 who have been arrested on first- or second-time truancy, theft, assault, narcotics or gun offenses are selected to participate.
Don't Fall Down in the Hood Director Greg Thompson said that "82 percent of the individuals who participate in the program are successful." He makes himself available to the program's members at all hours, encouraging them to call any time.
Elijah, a participant in Don't Fall Down in the Hood, recognized that the program was keeping him and his peers off of the streets and teaching them important skills. But as a high school freshman, he still can't wait to get out of the program.
He usually leaves his house at 7 a.m. each day for school; afterwards, he goes directly to the program. On most days, he won't get home until 8 p.m., if not later.
Elijah wants to get a job and to see his family more. He feels that he and his peers did not receive enough support from the general community prior to his arrest.
"They should have been here before we got locked up," he said.
On Mar. 22 Thompson took his group on a tour of the judicial system and the District Attorney's office. Director of Community and Governmental Relations for the DA's office Christopher Sample ran the tour.
The group sat in on an arraignment and received tips on how best to deal with the legal system.
"Dress up and speak well," Sample said. He also implored them to get rid of their guns.
"If you have a gun, you're going to use it," he said. "You're human, and someone's going to piss you off."
