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by CHACONIAC from CHICAGO

Last Post 11 days, 21 hours Ago


Violence and Young People
Apr 11, 2008 | 8:58 PM
Category: News
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Greetings all:

Tonight's story on the Kids Off The Block is one of those pieces that really hit me in the heart. These young people struggle against such overwhelming obstacles...and yet they keep hanging onto their dreams. The day they stop dreaming we are all in deep trouble.  But I'm afraid these kids won't live to make their dreams happen.

Marches are not going to help stem this tide of bloodshed.

Every one of these kids mentioned over-crowded schools and overwhelmed teachers as a factor in their inability to learn.

 They said they need after-school programs and sports activities to keep them busy and burn off energy. They need work programs and music and art and culture.

They also crave adult attention and guidance.They need grownups to show them how to act, how to think, how to go to work and take responsibility. They need adults to teach them how to think about consequences and make critical decisions. But so many of them have been abandoned by parents with their own problems, and no time to raise their own children.

That's where people like Diane Latiker come in...people who listen and love and mentor the kids who've been left to raise themselves.  I'm so glad we were able to take the time to listen to her and her kids...and let them tell their story, each in his or her own voice. It's something we don't do often enough on television news.

Thanks for letting us in, and thanks to our viewers for paying attention.

Regards,

Lilia

 

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Member Comments Total Comments: 13
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devildog67 read my blog
Apr 13, 2008 | 12:17 AM

Hey CHACONIAC, you are right, marches aren't going to help. When I went to school( Chgo Voc. H.S.) we had about 50 kids in the classroom. On average there were always around 5,500 enrolled. But we had what a lot of these kids don't have today and that is RESPECT for yourself and other people. When I was in high school everybody was looking for a job so when you get your Drivers Lincense you can buy a Car. In my 2nd, 3rd and 4th year I was working on the Docks. IN my 3rd year I bought a Corvette. All my teachers thought my parents had money, but I told them I worked at night from 4- 12:30.They didn't beleive me till I showed them my check studs and then said I made more money then them. I graduated in the summer of 1967. Everything was going grand till my NUMBER came up. That's why I call myself Devil Dog Class of 1967. For these kids today I don't see too much of a future, all the factories are gone. When I was in high school there use to be a United State Steel plant on the shores of Chicago at 83rd to 95th st. At one time they employed 55,000 people, now it is all empty land. Like the rest of America and those good paying jobs are never coming back. In China they pay 36 cents per hour. In Mexico they pay 80 cents per hour.The future for these kids is BLEAK. Oh did you see that Nike Shoe moved out of China and moved to Vietnam. In nam they work 12 hours a day for 1 dollar.
dianekob read my blog
Apr 13, 2008 | 1:52 PM

Hi Lilia,

I was so impressed with how FOX News presented our story. We want to say "Thank You" for giving youth the opportunity to talk about their lives and dreams. They were proud to know that you actually listened to what they had to say. Personally, it brought tears to my eyes when I viewed it. We will prevail to give our kids the validation, support and resources they need to achieve those dreams.

May GOD continue to Bless You!

Diane
Mark_Allen read my blog view my photos
Apr 15, 2008 | 1:21 PM

CVS '80 Grad !

I volunteer with Roseland CeaseFire and have marched with them and Kids Off The Block. I'm a member of The Monroe Foundation that helps raise money for these groups.

We don't seem to understand symbol versus substance. What does it mean to see how visible CeaseFire is at these vigils and marches and media features whe the kids from Crane and Simeon reached out for help and their phones were off and by the time they caught up with the people, they were beaten and killed.

I'm no longer impressed with media coverage if it does not lead to proper funding for the intervention and prevention before the fact, versus after the fact vigils and marches.

Why dont FOX lead a fundraising drive for these groups vereus announcing when they have funds after people are hurt and killed.
CHACONIAC read my blog view my photos
Apr 15, 2008 | 8:22 PM

Greetings all:
I believe reporters should raise awareness, not money. We have also focused multiple news stories on the budget cuts that led to the dismantling of CeaseFire intervention efforts.
Regards,
Lilia
S6XN9NE
Apr 16, 2008 | 7:48 AM

Great report, Lilia and a nice return to Mark Allen's cry for media's part in fundraising. I am myself of a generation where we were at the peak years of the baby boomers, had class sizes of at least 40 students,but most had after school jobs or participated in activities. I also think after school programs is the key to helping these kids on the right path. Diane Latiker "gets it" and is a Saint.
Oh, and a very Happy Birthday!

Steve
Chicago
itstime2chcange
Apr 21, 2008 | 10:34 PM

I have To say this is disturbing on all levels. You can ask any of us Army guys and we will all say, "The westside is just as bad as Iraq, the only differents is, the gangs don't have RPG's, yet. One question, Why hasn't the National Guard or the Army been put in these areas yet? Send us in because the Chicago Police can't do the job,at least alone anyways. Its time for us to step in and take out these "gang bangers" and let kids be able to go to school and play outside,like kids do, not be in fear of their lives! Speak up, please! at the very least take a poll and ask the people of Chicago if the Illinois National Guard should help out. Thats what we're here for! To help!! Send us in now!
itstime2chcange
Apr 21, 2008 | 10:34 PM

I have To say this is disturbing on all levels. You can ask any of us Army guys and we will all say, "The westside is just as bad as Iraq, the only differents is, the gangs don't have RPG's, yet. One question, Why hasn't the National Guard or the Army been put in these areas yet? Send us in because the Chicago Police can't do the job,at least alone anyways. Its time for us to step in and take out these "gang bangers" and let kids be able to go to school and play outside,like kids do, not be in fear of their lives! Speak up, please! at the very least take a poll and ask the people of Chicago if the Illinois National Guard should help out. Thats what we're here for! To help!! Send us in now!
itstime2chcange
Apr 21, 2008 | 10:34 PM

I have To say this is disturbing on all levels. You can ask any of us Army guys and we will all say, "The westside is just as bad as Iraq, the only differents is, the gangs don't have RPG's, yet. One question, Why hasn't the National Guard or the Army been put in these areas yet? Send us in because the Chicago Police can't do the job,at least alone anyways. Its time for us to step in and take out these "gang bangers" and let kids be able to go to school and play outside,like kids do, not be in fear of their lives! Speak up, please! at the very least take a poll and ask the people of Chicago if the Illinois National Guard should help out. Thats what we're here for! To help!! Send us in now!
NWSC88
Apr 23, 2008 | 11:21 PM

LANE TECH 06 GR.....UGH..... DROPOUT

Seriously Lilia... It's crazy out here. I've been raised all over the humboldt park area, armitage and pulaski, all over the westside. Murder is a a reality for us. It's not simply just a news story. I personally blame it on the CPD, CPS, and City of Chicago. There really does need to be some help for the younger generation because it's only getting worse. The more we live in this reality only numbs the next generation even more. Take a look at the gangs from the 60's, 70's, and 80's, the mentality of a gang was to protect their terriory. It used to be honorable. You would get slapped for littering the block, or for not helping an older woman with her groceries. Everything is RENEGADE out here now from the late 80's to now. Every group of friends for themselves. Even your average "neutron"(non gang member), has a gang banger mentality from dealin with the stresses and the hurdles of a gang infested area. I'm only 19 and the only thing worse then this on the news is Iraq. The City of Chicago does not care. The CPD doesn't care, at ALL. "The CPD... the biggest GANG in Chicago." Straight from the lips of a 14th district officer in February. The police are an occupying force, where thir salary is dependent on a crime rate increase. Instead of locking up kids smoking a little weed (so did you), get the ones killing our children, get the ones giving our children guns.
CSCCSC
Apr 24, 2008 | 2:48 PM

Kids crave discipline. And guess what? They get it in the gangs. All gangs have rules; and they are known, consistent, and upheld. Gangs don't tolerate rule-breaking. You break a rule, you get punished. No whining, either.

The gangs offer excitment - actual physical activity every single day! How often do parents or schools offer that to growing children?

The gang offers rewards for accomplishments - not just for trying hard (as our psychologists have urged the mainstream to do for so long).

Even though I'm in the mainstream world, I've been "on the street" and in the hood for over 10 years, talking to gang members and wannabees. They are in the gangs because of what is lacking in their homes. The police, the jails, the laws - none of these things will ever change the situation on the streets. There has to be a change in the family. Kids are going to get their discipline, their rewards, their excitement somewhere and right now, the gangs are providing them.
JimAllen read my blog view my photos
Apr 25, 2008 | 11:24 AM

I'm working on a Multi-cultural Mentor Program with Rainbow Push for Youth/Young Adults in Grades 9th-12th. The Program will operate Monday-Friday 10am-8pm and Saturdays 10am-8pm. We need Mentors who can volunteer a few Hours.

Currently I oversee a Summer Program called (Chicago Scholars) for Children Grades 4th-8th which will start June 19, 2008 and go through August 29, 2008. Program days Monday-Friday 9am-5pm / Fee is only $15.00 per Week.

Rev. Jim D. Allen
773.378.6775
SEACInternational@teamfca.com
JimAllen read my blog view my photos
Apr 27, 2008 | 1:50 PM

Rev. Jim D. Allen
http://community.myfoxchicago.com/blogs/JimAllen
wheeles
Apr 30, 2008 | 1:10 PM

PARENTS NEED TO START TAKING RESPONSIBILITY FOR THEIR CHILDREN KNOW WERE YOUR CHILDREN ARE AND WHAT THEY ARE DOING DONT LET THEM RUN FREE TO DO WHAT THEY WANT BE A PARENT NOT A FRIEND
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CHACONIAC

I'm a long-time reporter at Fox News with more than 25 years of journalism experience. In the course of my travails and travels I have worked in wires, newspapers and television, in Chicago and Albuquerque. Probably the most important lesson in all this a healthy respect for the great many ways there are to live life on our round planet...the second most important lesson is never wear high heels to a gang war. That's the thing about chasing news for a living...sometimes you have to run!

Member Since: 9/6/2006


 

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