THIS IS A TWO CHAPTER, SEVEN PARTS ELECTRONIC MANUSCRIPT, CONVERTED INTO A LITERARY COLLECTION OF POEMS, AN ESSAY, THE SHORT STORY, COMMENTS AND BLOGS, AND " SEVEN TRACKS FROM MY MIND ", THE LITERARY LYRICS COLLECTION, AND A CHAPTER TWO SUBTITLE,. " YA'LL STILL LISTENING THOUGH ", WITH MORE LIFE EXPERIENCE POEMS AIMED AT THE MESSAGE NOT THE MESSENGER.

Part IV.


FORUM FOR THE COMMUNITY CENTER.

This is a short story based on the topic of community discussions aimed at seeking a solution in regards to youth violence and the spread of gang activities across America. The increased numbers of violent crimes among our youth are alarming. The murder rate within the African-American Communities throughout many cities are rising due to the increased numbers of gang actiivities in our neighborhoods. It is up to us all. to seek a solution, and find the way to address our concerns, and establish a plan of action.

" Forum For The Community Center ", is a story about how the unity of our youth worked together with other youth organizations, to address the kids that are falling victim to the peer pressure of joining gangs. It is their mission to reach those that are influenced by the streets, and encourage them to change their perception. This four part story will inspire it's readers and touch the hearts of many, especially when they read the famous community speech made by T.T., one of the youth organization leaders.

The message in this story is very much needed. " Whether you live in the, HOOD or HOLLYWOOD, we all are affected by the crime and events of our children. From the inner city streets to the suburbs, we must get involved and seek a positive solution. Prayer Works ! It is up to us to show our youth they just have to believe ".





Author & Poet Kevin Fulton. E-Book Released 2008.

Tags: inspirational, message, networking, positive, promoting, marketing





FORUM FOR THE COMMUNITY CENTER. © 07.

BY. KEVIN D. FULTON © 07.

PART ONE.

Crime has reached a critical level and threatens the existences of our community. The negative lifestyle of the streets are effecting the youth. Our kids are being influenced by some peers, and are now in danger of pursuing the lifestyle of gangs. It is time for us, the parents, teachers, siblings, positive peers, to all act as citizens and be up for the challenge to save our families and community. This is a matter where Crime Prevention Programs can work, as long as we are the ones willing to do our part in saving our neighborhood. We must focus on developing a plan of action to attract our youth and encourage them to want to learn how to do the right thing for the right reasons. We must go after all of our resources with the intent back by actions. " FAITH WITHOUT DEEDS ARE DEAD ". May our objectives to rebuild the Community Center be the all out afford to establish Educational and Recreational Programs designed with life enhancing goals for our kids. Inorder for us to make this a successful task, we must eliminate the problems and become a part of the solution. With that being said, this Meeting is adjourned. Thank you all for being present tonight.

Those were the words spoken to an audience of Residents and Community Leaders at the Morningside Housing Community Center. The staff of the Center sponsored a Community Forum to address the compliants of those residents and members of the surrounding community. It was a very large crowd attending the Forum tonight. Normally it would have taken some kind of tradgedy to bring this many citizens out for a Community held Meeting. Tonight, however, this was not the case. The reason for this event was the actions of two youth organizations that had a positive vision of hope on how to attract those peers who had gone astray in some cases, and to help those less fortunate, because of the living conditions or family matters that prevent them from having a chance at the life they desired. The team of youth came from all kinds of backgrounds. Together they came up with a mission to raise money to rebuild the Morningside Housing Community Center. The goals and objectives to some Community Leaders seem to be an illision. However, these kids were backed by the unbreakable spirit of being a part of the solution, willing to challenge themselves. This was the start of a community task that brought unbelievable results for the Center and Neighborhoods city wide.

The opening statement sound like the usual political rhetoric voiced with concern. Those were the words of , seventeen years old Tina Thomas, known to her peers as T.T. T.T., is the founder of Youth Assisting Youth, an organization that started with a few local students from different parts of the City. Their aim was to help educate kids in the neighborhood on the importance of Education. They had established themselves through the local Library, making homework and testing preparation assistance the Mission Statement.

After two years, " Y.A.Y." ( Youth Assisting Youth ), had grew and became the resource aiding kids from, six years old to eighteen. The organization had established its own Board members with the original Team Members electing among themselves leaders. Going into its third year, they all agreed on inviting other Youth Organization Members and City Government Officials, along with Crime Prevention Task Force Officers, Proffessional Athletes, and two community raised Business Men to the Forum. This was the Event of the Century!!!


FORUM FOR THE COMMUNITY CENTER © 07.

BY KEVIN D. FULTON © 07.

Part Two

Many questions were being raised about the increased violence and the presence of gang activity throughout the City. The Forum would be open to address all concerns in regards to the issues and compliants from the residents of the Morningside Housing Community and the Neighborhoods surrounding. In fear of the Gang Bangers making threats, it was rumored that the residents would not come out to the Forum. However, to the surprise of many, the turn out was overwhelming. The Event was held without any disturbing incidents. There was a Police presence along with Community Activist, City Council Members, Court Officials, and the promising guest appearences that happen to be Professional Athletes, who are locally raised. It was with the help of those individuals and a community raised Developeer that the Event tonight would shock those in attendance.

Youth Assisting Youth had combined its resources with the Morningside Youth Against Youth Crime Organization, ( a local based group that used the Center for After School Prgrams ), and the Youth Committee on Youth Violence Organization, which was founded by Mustafa Shakur. Together with the remarkable fund raising and leadership of Carl Black, the Activity Coordinator and Youth Choir Manager, the Forum for the Community Center was about to get the news from the enthused group of youth leaders, that the Center rebuilding project had raised the funds collectively among themselves. Over a period of one year, the Youth Assisting Youth Organization had expanded the mission and started to reach out to those caught up in the grips of peer preasure. After meeting with Mustafa and Carl, TT decided it would be worth the challenge to focus on developing a message that can inspire the youth in need of a positive direction. Therefore, the groups held a brainstorming meeting among themselves, and came up with the idea to establish a format aimed to reach their peers. The focus points would be to implement spiritual principles with creative entertainment allowing the youth to voice themselves through Speeches, Inspirational Songs, and continue the Educational and Recreational objectives being the foundation of hope.

The new objectives were added to the Mission Statement. A plan was established with all the key players ready to take on the challenge of some very serious roles. The Forum was not only a meeting, it had also become an Event aimed at sending the message that our youth was ready to be heard. The project was well on its way to solutions.



FORUM FOR THE COMMUNITY CENTER

BY KEVIN D. FULTON © 07.

Part Three

The success of the Community Forum would be recognized throughout the City. During the meeting citizens from all over the County came out to address the issues and concerns. The message of hope from the youth had inspired many supporters. The restoration of Faith and the motivation of the Youth Organizations brought about a sincere belief among those attending the meeting. The best was yet to come.

Can we have everyones attention please ? Carl Black, known to the kids as, " BOUNCE", because of his enthused expression of bouncing to the rhythm of inspirational music, was about to address the audience. Tonight on the behalf of the Youth Assisting Youth Organization and all the invited Youth Organization guest, we would like to thank you all for being here. We do appreciate the views and concerns addressed tonight. As you know we have a special announcement to make concerning the Fund Raiser for our project. Without further delay, please welcome Ms. Tina Thomas, and Mr. Mustafa Shakur to the stage.

Thank you all for being here tonight. My name is Mustafa. Nearly two years ago I was approached by a group of teens at the library and asked if I could assist them in establishing new objectives that will help them transform the Youth Organizations Mission inorder to address the problems associated with teens facing Community peer preasure, and gang violence. I was presented with a format developed with a plan of real action designed by the group, " Youth Assisting Youth". The work they had already done in the Communities with the two years of Educating their peers through a Tutoring and Mentor Program Organization was very impressive. Therefore, I had know second thoughts about offering any help. After six months of meetings and developing a format allowing them to conduct and perform what it is they wish to do, I became very much convinced that we have a group of kids, teens, and young adults on a mission to be part of the solution. It is a great pleasure for me to introduce to this audience the leaders of tomorrow, our Youth Organizations from various parts of our City, accompanied by the Spokes Person for the Youth Assisting Youth Organization, Ms. Tina Thomas.

The applauds and cheers from the audience shook the room with a loud explosin of the High School Drumline, as the Youth Organizations began to shout, " Y.A.Y., Y.A.Y., Y.A.Y. ".


FORUM FOR THE COMMUNITY CENTER

BY KEVIN D. FULTON © 07.

Part IV

CAN YOU FEEL USSSSSSSS!!! Those were the words of T.T., Tina Thomas, as she approached the platform. This was the begining of a Speech no one attending the Forum would ever forget.


THE SPEECH

____________

First, I would like to thank the Residence, Invited Guest, and most of all, my Peers for making this Event possible. We are here tonight to address our concerns with hopes we can be a part of the solution to a major issue in regards to the lives of our " YOUTH ", and the deterioration of our " NEIGHBORHOOD " and surrouonding " COMMUNITIES ". I am the youngest of three generations born and raised in our area. The brief History of our Community as I have learned, is something I would like to share. There is a need for us to restore the family values and rejuvenate the spiritual principles inwhich this Community was built upon.

Built in the sixties, this Housing Developement was designed to help the low income Residence of our Community. Our Neighborhood was a Community surrounded and known for its rich African-American Heritage. We had some of the best Educational Institutions around, from Elementary, Junior High, ( renamed Middle Schools ), and a High School and University known for its contributions to our Community and the surrounding Neighborhoods. In addition to that, they both had Sports and Musical Programs recognized Nation wide. During my Parents years we hear of stories about how generations followed one another to be a Graduate of the Community High School, because that was a norm in our Community, " which speaks of our academic statis during those years ". Teachers knew the students family line almost immediately. Now days we don't hear much of the legacy of Community Education or the unified involvement that once was the foundation of a healthy Community. Our Neighborhoods have fallen victim to the greed of the developers, while the population growth expands, leaving some areas out there to fend growth and developement for themselves. Community Churches and Programs aimed to enlighten spiritual principles are forced to keep silent among the struggling youth in our divided and lost School Systems. WHAT DID YOU EXPECT ? PRACTICING SELF-WILL, " EASING GOD OUT ", MAKING AN ISSUE OVER PRAYER AND MEDITATION IN OUR SCHOOLS ? Now we are faced with a generation of kids gone astray. Tonight we are here to speak some truth and focus on doing what it will take to attract our young brothers and sisters, our peers, with hope that we can provide the lost children and adults in our Community with the message needed to restore FAITH, HOPE, AND LOVE in the Souls of our Peers. Tonight with the help of The Morningside Youth Choir and The Youth Assisting Youth, we would like to perform for the audience, so sit back and relax, and let the, " MESSAGE IN OUR MUSIC OPEN YOUR EYES!!!!

The Speech brought about a silence throughout the room. The stage was set and the curtains was pulled back, revealing a large Youth Choir with kids ranging from the ages six to eighteen. The first selection started as the crowd looked upon them in silence.

( the lyrics began to flow )

A Nation of children in the world going astray, doing things thats hard to believe, God will you please give us your helping hand, your miracle power is what we need. It's time we come together and make a stand, raise our girls and boys to be women and men.........................................................................

The Choir was very much into the lyrics, and the audience began to feel the powerful presence of the " SPIRITUALITY ", slowly filling the room.

They performed the songs, " Changing I and Youth Healing " . By now there wasn't a dry eye in the room. The message of the Forum combined with the call for help from the performances made the event a success. The solution came about from our youth assisting and achieving goals aimed at being part of the solutions.

THE END