2 minute read
Community-Oriented
I am a college senior studying criminal justice and sociology. Growing up, I had no choice but to go wherever my mom went, and she was active in the community, which made me community-oriented. I became involved within my community at a very young age. Growing up, I was a part of the minority, and I’m not talking about race. I had very overprotective parents and a village. Although I lived in the inner city, I didn’t quite live the inner city lifestyle. I experienced the hood from the outside looking in, and I had a different childhood and mindset setting me aside from my peers.
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I participated in dozens of youth-based organizations, including the Philadelphia Community Youth Court, where I served as the first female judge, youth advocate (Lawyer), & intake coordinator. Our mission is to mentor our peers to change their thinking in order to change their behaviors, to help eradicate the school-to-prison pipeline, and address issues that affect youth by the law, restorative practices, and from the youth perspective. I’ve indirectly experienced inner-city violence. I’ve had schoolmates and friends killed in the streets and incarcerated. I felt the need to take action, so I, along with South Phila Jr Stakeholders, initiated “Philly Youth Speak Up,” a traveling nonviolence youth forum focused on finding the root causes of violence committed by youth. That’s when I realized that most youth that look like me have experienced some form of trauma, poverty, brokenness, and a failed system. I set my short-term goals on making a difference, becoming a part of the solution and addressing disparities within the system, and my long-term goals are becoming a lawyer and law advocate.
As soon as I could vote, I voted and advocated for my peers and their parents to vote. Electing civil servants and officials into office that will introduce laws that will bridge the gap and address those disparities was just as important as electing the president.
It was important to me to raise awareness of the responsibility and accountability of our elected officials. It is equally important for the community to take a seat at the decision-making table, having a voice, and speaking up when our youth and community is affected in all matters, including but not limited to Education, funding, gun violence, criminal justice reform, and health.
Youth needs to get involved because we are the change we want to see; we are the now and the future. It is up to the youth to take charge now to change the future. Our voices matter and need to be heard! Much too often, youth and the youth perspective are overlooked. Adults and those in charge need to take the time to listen to and understand our youth. Parent and community accountability is not enforced. There is no real emphasis on investing in our youth. Instead, they are investing in prisons. Frederick Douglas eloquently said, “It is easier to build strong children than to repair broken men.” If parents raised more community-minded children, we would be the majority. Again, I’m not talking about race. I’m talking about productive citizens versus “broken men.”
Khayla Philadelphia
