The PEACE Foundation is working to inspire and coordinate allies from around the region to build a relationship with the Northside and support the local leadership in strategies to end violence. As allies from the broader community develop a deeper sense of the assets and challenges on the Northside, they will be more equipped to bring new resources and new partners to the effort.
Case in Point: Northside Youth Lead State Legislators
One primary goal of the PEACE Foundation is to productively engage elected officials to change public policy and impact the underpinnings of local violence. To this end, a Northside tour for interested state legislators hosted by Northside Youth StandUp was planned. Five state legislators from the region – all invited by their constituents who are Ally Partners of the PEACE Foundation – were given a tour of the Northside lead by the youth. The youth talked about their community – the good and the bad – and took the legislators to the spots where their friends had been killed. One of the legislators passionately noted the stark difference between her and the youth stating that she has never known anybody in her 65 years of living who had been murdered, compared to the youth who all knew many. This poignant connection between those with the most power and those who have been marginalized the greatest has already changed the course of the future in this region. The legislators have vowed to create change and the youth are now recognizing the power that has always been within them.
