![]() ![]() Roberts and his peers said that's largely why they trust Holmes. "You try to take our mindset and how we feel into consideration, and you want to help us." You don't have to be another leader, but you're sitting there listening to us. No, you don't have to be another Will in the world. "Trying to understand what we're doing, trying to understand what we're going through. "What are y'all doing right now? Sitting down and listening to us, right?" Roberts, 19, said to the audience. He also reminded the crowd that big changes are made up of small ones, that even showing up to the event is already a step in the right direction. Nathan Roberts, a 2021 graduate of Starts Right Here, said it's time to "put the guns down" and for officials to "step up" - and not only when tragedies occur. One student said the city needs to create more spaces for youth just to hang out. Some opened up about feeling overlooked at school or being put down by a teacher, while others spoke about seeing violence in their neighborhoods. Each speaker passed the mic down in a line after sharing their stories. ![]() More: As Starts Right Here reopens, Will Keeps raises money for security guard, metal detectorsĭuring the panel, Brown asked Holmes and his students questions on building trust, coping with trauma and pain and exploring solutions to make their communities safer. "That's what this series is all about: It's taking the steps to better understand and also become more engaged," he said. The event rounded out the church's four-part Racial Unity Pathway series, which launched last month and was designed to create room for "vulnerable conversations," pastor Brian Brown told the Des Moines Register ahead of the panel.īrown, who moderated the conversation, said he sought to provide Holmes and his students a platform to speak openly about their journeys - their struggles and successes - and the community with an opportunity to learn. On Tuesday night, Holmes joined six of his students on Hope+Elim's stage and led a roughly hour-and-a-half-long discussion on ways people can support youth. "When we work together, we can help out so many," he said. "Every place is a safe place until it's not," Holmes said, repeating the line.īut the intimate details Holmes shared opened the door to a larger message of unity. More: Starts Right Here shooting suspects to be tried separately, judge rules Another person, Bravon Tukes, was charged with first-degree murder as the alleged getaway driver. But Walls, a student of the education program for at-risk youth, pulled away, allegedly shooting and killing classmates, 16-year-old Rashad Carr and 18-year-old Gionni Dameron. Holmes tried to escort Walls away from the area. Holmes, also known by his stage name Will Keeps, said he screamed for 18-year-old Preston Walls, the alleged shooter who opened fire in a common space at Starts Right Here, 455 S.W. ![]()
0 Comments
Leave a Reply. |