Sat
Jan 30 2016
08:43 am

I finally watched the entire video provided by WATE of the Stop the Violence meeting. It was worth the time. A lot of good discussion.

A couple of points that were reiterated by several audience members as well as panelists:

1) They need volunteers to help the children

2) The children need to be kept busy with education, activities, and jobs in their communities.

3) There are a lot of success stories from the community that should be highlighted

Most of the audience members that spoke, if not all, were success stories with good input and emotion.

* A Western Heights resident promoting vocational training. It helped him. He owns his business. Has sons that have gone on to be a lawyer and another that graduated from Penn State.

* A Fulton High School graduate that volunteers in the community. She commented that back in the 70s and 80s they had community centers, parks and recreation, neighborhood watch, had a lot of opportunities. Now the media tends to show the negative parts or cutting of a ribbon for grand openings, they do not show everyday life.

* A twelve year old boy [Vine Middle Magnet School student] asking "why did it take the death of a young black man to have this meeting?" He went on to say, "most of us that live in the inner city, we think we are impoverished, we have that mindset that we are impoverished so we are going to stay impoverished. Also, I think it is because children are raising children."

* A professor at Pellissippi (Magnolia campus), previously homeless, said we know the problem, what is the solution? Most of all you need courage. Let a policeman kill a black, everyone is in an uproar. Blacks kill blacks and no one says anything. I've sat in my classroom and seen black young men leave my classroom and they are dead the next day. He has a list posted outside of his office

* A professor at Univ. of TN - originally from Boston and North Carolina. He lived in the projects. To be me, with 6 college degrees, to be a professor, to play professional football, I'm saying this to say this, when I went to the Air Force, there were people that loved me. Are we really seeing people uniquely different and truly having the compassion?

After the break is a rough transcription of the meeting dialogue.



continued...

Transcribed from WATE video.
The transcription is not word for word.

Full house at Fulton High School auditorium.

Representative of Emerald Youth Foundation
Starts at home
Presence - be with the kids

TIME - 49 minutes left

Citizen from audience speaks

Teaching our young men to be men
Teaching men to go into the community to be a leader
Who is going to volunteer?

What commitment has the city and county made to invest in the community?

Needs to be a strategic plan with those that can bring about change in the community.
A conversation with those that want to help with those that have the power to do something.

Panelist - Boys and Girls Club representative believes they have support from city and county.

TIME - 45 minutes left

Panelist - UUNIK Academy - Don't criminalize black males any further.
When we see TV we see black males [as gangs].

TIME - 43 minutes left

Citizens from audience speak

Audience member, Western Heights resident promotes vocational training. It helped him. He owns his business. Has sons that have gone on to be a lawyer and graduated from Penn State.
RE: Magnolia revitalization - need business that hire African-Americans to do the work. Don't see African-American road crews. Don't see African-American crews building facilities in the neighborhoods. Need Army, Navy, etc. recruitment stations on Magnolia to see young men doing good.

Audience member [past Fulton High graduate] asked how many people actually live in the inner city and in the housing developments? Please raise your hand. Very few hands raised. How many people lived in the housing developments back in the 70s and 80s? Please raise your hand. Very few hands raised. Very different back then. Back then they had community centers, parks and recreation, neighborhood watch, had a lot of opportunities. Now the media tends to show the negative parts or cutting of a ribbon for grand openings, they do not show everyday life. There are still parks. Must first identify the problem before trying to identify a solution. The attendee goes around the neighborhood and does surveys. There is nothing to do. We focus on crime when we should be focusing on the lack of jobs, the lack of money. ?? Eighty-five percent of those living in the inner city are convicted felons. She has spent time trying to get people registered to vote. She was only able to turn in ten applications. Everyone is a convicted felon. The gang thing is over-rated, a copout, an excuse for the neighborhood, the people of color, the leaders, for not doing what they are supposed to do. How many Caucasian people in this audience would like to be treated as black people? Please stand. Couldn't see that anyone stood.

Panelist, church youth director, responds, she agrees with the attendee. The youth need more to do in their spare time. Everyone's kid doesn't play football or basketball. Need to have positive things to do, tutoring, volunteer activities, part-time jobs, recreation centers put back into their community, An idle mind is the devil's playground. You all need to make it affordable to do these things.

TIME - 36 minutes left

Moderators go to on-line comments

On-line comment - What should be the role of teachers who know of student gang affiliation but don't want to trap anyone in the justice system?

Panelist response - can't be on the teachers and the principals to solve this. People need to volunteer time with the schools. They need men in there. Knox County has 91% white teachers, even in predominantly black schools. Most of them are white female. You are dealing with a lot of testosterone. You need men in there to deal with these young males. Organizations [churches] should adopt a school.

Panelist continues in response to an audience comment, which we were unable to hear, you don't have to wear your cloth in there. You can go in as a regular person.

TIME - 34 minutes left

Panelist - one of our most powerful strategies going on right now are our "community schools", most of our inner city elementary schools are identified as "community schools". That is what you are talking about. Bringing the community into the school. The school system doesn't necessarily determine what they [the kids] need, the community [parents, community members, students] comes together to determine what they need. What is needed at each individual community school. County and City mayors have made significant investments.

TIME - 32 minutes left

About ready to change panelists, half way through the meeting. Wanting to make sure all panelists had their opportunity to talk.

Panelist - need for vocational training, absolutely that is an option for young people after high school. Entrepreneurship, need to help people own their own business. Kids need your expertise, all kids need life skills, interest clubs, the arts, need backstage tours, need field trips, Schools need volunteers, mentors, speakers for classrooms, clubs, career fairs, internships, jobs. Kids need your time, your talent, your treasure.

TIME - 31 minutes left

Audience member - Twelve year old boy [Vine Middle Magnet School student], He first has a comment, "I should not have to be standing up here talking to you all about how you all should be stopping the violence. The violence should never be. His question is, "why did it take the death of a young black man to have this meeting?"

Panelist - we have displaced the mothers of slain children before Zaevion, no disrespect to the Dobson family. We have to look at all of our kids that have been victims equally. To answer the question, for some reason this went viral, it just spread. No explanation.

Another Panelist - it's God.

Back to first Panelist, look for the good in something. Hopefully, it will motivate people to action as opposed to you know.

Back to twelve year old male audience member, most of us that live in the inner city, we think we are impoverished, we have that mindset that we are impoverished so we are going to stay impoverished. Also, I think it is because children are raising children. You are going to be 17 years old raising some 4 year old

TIME - 27 minutes left

Changing panelists.
Now hearing the Austin-East Mighty Road Runner Gospel Choir.

TIME - 21 minutes left

Audience member - She said there are no jobs in East Knoxville as compared to jobs in West Knoxville. Need economic development and education. Educated people make educated decisions. She lives in Western Heights. Her son just came back from a tour of duty in Afghanistan. We have good kids you all. Let's not let them all go.

Panelist - former gang member, he's up there because he is a product of change, he is what they want to see. His source of change is Jesus Christ. He didn't have a panel, or a council, or all these people in this room. All he had was a bible and himself. That is all he needed. If you don't read you have nothing to talk about. You have to educate yourself. You have to spend time in your room, some personal time. This meeting is a step toward improvement. We have to continue.

Audience member - professor at Pellissippi (Magnolia campus), previously homeless, we know the problem, what is the solution? I've heard the solution here, but we're all going in a different way. Most of all you need courage. Look at the power sitting around you, yet we have black on black crime, they are killing each other. Black lives matter, even in Walter P. Taylor it matters. We're not doing anything as long as black are killing blacks. Let a policeman kill a black, everyone is in an uproar. Blacks kill blacks and no one says anything. Referencing Mayor Rogero, she said it is going to take a long time and we have to do it together. I've heard that echoed. I've sat in my classroom and seen black young men leave my classroom and they are dead the next day. He has a list posted outside of his office

Panelist - Save Our Sons program, developing an action plan from what have heard from community members and service providers. We have to have something soon that others can join into as part of the solution. Kids, men, coming home from prison need jobs. Looking for opportunities. Kids need something to do after school. Looking at that as well. The city is working on an action plan to address some of the problems.

Audience member follow-up - professor at Pellissippi (Magnolia campus), where are you reaching for these kids? Are you reaching for them at Walter P. Taylor? How many live in East Knoxville, grew up in the ... I did. You've got to have courage. Got to face those children. Talk about the drug war. Blacks don't make drugs. We don't have planes. We don't manufacture drugs.

Moderator breaks in on audience members comments to give a panelist a chance to remark.

TIME - 11 minutes left

Panelist - 100 Black Men - Prior to urban renewal there was a lot of strength in our community. Let us give our children the truth about where they come from in Knoxville. Our community comes from doctors, lawyers, etc. People don't even know that the Green School is named after an African-American doctor, Dr. Green. Our children can achieve things that existed in our community prior to urban renewal. We don't need to wait on a plan to operate, we need to pick up on our history and move forward. As soon as urban renewal took place we started in with the blight, we started in with the disinvestment with our schools. The bloodshed of our children today is directly from that.

Audience member follow-up - professor at Pellissippi (Magnolia campus), I teach an African-American literature course, not just on Martin Luther King birthday, I teach it year round. The students are getting everything you are saying.

Panelist follow-up - 100 Black Men - I keep hearing the same thing, investment, image. The image has to change. I appreciate the media for being here and doing this, but let us be frank, the media has slanted what our community looks like so businesses haven't wanted to come to the area. Our children have no image to look to.

TIME - 9 minutes left

Moderators go to on-line comments

Moderator first defends the panelists and says they work very hard to be a part of the solution.

On-line comment - What educational opportunities do we have for parents? W/kids having kids, what guidance is offered these parents?

Panelist - juvenile court judge - by the time the matters come to me, I have to follow the law. I follow it as compassionately as possible. It doesn't always have to be a parent that makes the difference. Young people respond to unconditional love. They respond to knowing someone is in their corner no matter what. Everybody that is here tonight can do one thing to make a difference in a young person's life by being there for them unconditionally. For girls. For boys. The kids he encounters, this is the element they are missing. It breaks his heart when a young person is let out of detention and no one shows up to pick them up. I don't see many whole families anymore, don't see Mom and Dad.

Someone in the audience starts shouting at the panelist in disagreement.

Moderator asks a question for Zaevion's mother - is KPD getting close to arresting anyone for Zaevion's death?

Chief Rausch responds - they are bringing a charge to the grand jury for one individual and are continuing to seek the other individual.

Audience member - professor at Univ. of TN - from Boston and North Carolina. He loves the projects. The projects made him. I know what it is like to sell drugs, be homeless, drop out of school. I know what it is like to be looked at as somebody that can't succeed. To be me, with 6 college degrees, to be a professor, to play professional football, I'm saying this to say this, when I went to the Air Force, there were people that loved me. Are we really seeing people uniquely different and truly having the compassion? Are we seeing the differences as something positive that can be used in our businesses, schools, or maybe even college? If we can do that we can really start working together as a community.

Man with No Plan's picture

KNS Harassment

How come no one wants to talk about the allegations of sexual harassment and assault alleged by the News Sentinel reporter?

It was really great of the media to produce this program that will go no where and pound on their chests and talk about how great they all are when one of their own is being harassed.

Didn't KNS have a moderator on hand to address this?

Brian Hornback has the video: (link...)

Up Goose Creek's picture

Magnolia Ave

At the Magnolia streetscape meeting the question was raised: why don't the construction jobs go to people of the community?

The presenter had a quick response to get contractors license and bid on jobs.

But the people most in need of jobs are those at the entry level. I spoke with a city employee after the meeting and got this response:

1. there would need to be classes at Austin East and Pellisippi Magnolia covering subjects like OSHA, safety, construction, etc.

2. There would need to be a change in the bidding process as a contract restricted to local labor would not meet the requirements for competitive bidding. It seems this could be addressed by legislation at the city and state level. That seems do-able if Federal money is not involved.

What do you all think? I hope some of the education and city workers on KV can weigh in to say if this is realistic.

I expect the bid costs would be higher that a conventionally bid project, but if you consider the social costs of unemployed young people it could be a good public investment.

Anonymousalso's picture

The projects used to be worse

The lady pretending the projects used to be better off was demonstrating massive ignorance. The murder rate was significantly higher during the time period she described (80s and 90s) than it is today.

People need to examine the facts about crime in Knoxville before they make statements about it.

The most hilarious statement was the guy who said less than 1/3 of the gang members in Knoxville are black, and that many are white supremacists or militia members. That statement is laughably false even if you include the incarcerated individuals (which is somewhere where you would pick up some white supremacist gang members).

bizgrrl's picture

She was talking about the 70s

She was talking about the 70s and 80s. I don't know about the 80s, but in South Knoxville in the 70s much of the section 8 housing was much better than it is now.

Tamara Shepherd's picture

*

I don't know anything about how crime rates have changed in these housing projects since the 70's and 80's, but I can tell you that these developments are much more attractive--inside and out--and much better appointed than they used to be.

Out my way, the Kensington Forest Section 8 apartments (east of Clinton Highway) and the Belle Meade Section 8 apartments (west of Clinton Highway and right down the street from me) are both indistinguishable from apartment buildings anywhere else in the city, replete with laundry facilities inside and landscaped grounds/patios or balconies outside.

Closer into town, the former Christenberry Heights housing project, which underwent a $16.5 million renovation and reopened as Northridge Crossing in 2009, is vastly improved. The church I attended in the 70's used to conduct a bus ministry there and in that era the entire complex was bleak and rundown. I specifically recall that the un-landscaped exteriors were littered with rusty clotheslines and the interiors had cinderblock walls.

Oh...and I left off Cassell Ridge apartments, another Section 8 complex located at the Clinton Highway and I-640 interchange and part of the Powell High school zone since 2008, which is also a perfectly attractive "hi-rise" development of three-story buildings.

I would hope to learn that there is a relationship between creating attractive, well-functioning public housing and lowering an area's crime rate? If so, all four of these complexes should be "improved" since the 70's, in more ways than one?

Elwood Aspermonte's picture

Real jobs on the East side of town? Hello SuperChamber

you are having a hard time relocating and recruiting new business and for profit industry and employment to Knox County as a whole ("we recruit to the area," Bull$7!T)be it downtown, up north, out west, pretty soon you'll have violence and crime ridden areas all over the county unless we get some real leadership in those roles.

Nobody bothered to connect the $9 million the City of Knoxville spent on a freaking rock pile on the south side of the river which could have been used to do something productive on the East side of town, but no, the city continues to focus on form over substance, how things look rather than how things really are, and they bail out a problematic downtown development (anybody see anything going on on the South side of the River, should have been completed per press releases some time ago)and throw corporate welfare at the largest theater chain in the world, a corporate office that wasn't going anywhere other than to the majority owner's city, either Denver or Los Angeles. Sheesh.

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