After a local crime spike that’s included shootings and carjackings, officials in Prince George鈥檚 County and separate municipalities within the county are working to tamp them down with jobs and community bonding.
On Saturday, a gathering at Woodlawn Springs Apartments basketball court in District Heights to shoot hoops at a three-on-three tournament 鈥� part of the ongoing 鈥淥ur Streets, Our Future鈥� effort to keep youth engaged in productive behaviors and to prevent gun violence.
鈥淲e wanted to get the kids involved with something positive. There’s a lot going on in the community as far as gun violence, negative energy,鈥� said , City of District Heights mayor.
He shared how COVID has affected communities throughout Prince George’s County, and that District Heights is no different. That’s why Medlock wanted to organize something unique with the basketball tournament to try and bring out everyone in the community.
鈥淭hey’re gonna find something to do. We want to give them [the youth] something positive to do, and give them some positive attention,鈥� he said.
The sights and scents of summer were in the air, from several bounce houses to hot dogs on a grill, and tables with information about what鈥檚 available to the community 鈥� including employment opportunities.
鈥淲e have so many resources for them. So they say ‘Mayor Medlock, I need a job.’ OK, the resources are here for them. Whatever they need is here for them today,鈥� Medlock said.
鈥淲e really want to match these young people in this community with real job and real career opportunities so that they can have more choices in life,鈥� said County State鈥檚 Attorney Aisha Braveboy.
Information on legal services, mentoring and tutoring services, environmental services were available 鈥� along with a mobile barber shop for those who needed a haircut.
Community leaders including Medlock, Braveboy and members of Omega Psi Phi Fraternity offering to foot the bill for dozens of cuts.
One 6-year-old boy was out with his dad passing out fliers promoting the new book he wrote titled 鈥淏eing Age 6 Rocks.鈥� Dekari Holland hasn鈥檛 yet reached double-digits in age, but said 鈥測ou can take your life serious now when you’re five, or six, or seven, or eight, or nine 鈥� or you’re a little kid.”
鈥淥ur future are in these streets. So it’s important that we get them out and engage them and meet them, meet them where they are,鈥� Medlock said.
