Come the next city election, mayoral hopefuls in Baltimore may face a new and well-organized constituency. Sure, they can?t vote, and they?re a bit young, but after a few minutes of listening to them, it becomes clear they won?t pull punches on what needs to be done to improve the city.
“It?s not the school system, it?s the people in the schools,” said Robert Jackson, 15, as a group of 150 students listened at the Mount Zion Methodist Church on Liberty Heights Avenue. “Gang violence is bringing people down,” he said.
That?s why B.U.I.L.D., the community-based organization that erected 750 homes in Sandtown-Winchester, is organizing a coalition of the city?s youngest residents to create an agenda for the next mayor. B.U.I.L.D. stands for Baltimoreans United in Leadership Development.
The program, called “The B.U.I.L.D. Youth Campaign,” will feature meetings in the city?s neighborhoods, lead organizer Rob English said. After consulting hundreds of city residents under 18, the organization will draft an agenda based on what the young people said needs to be changed.
“These are the voices that aren?t usually heard,” English said. “But we?re going to listen, and the mayoral candidates will have to listen, too.”
On Saturday, nearly 150 city middle school and high school students gathered at Mount Zion to start crafting the agenda. Their opinions were varied and startling.
Shey, 15, said she sees five to six acts of violence a week in her neighborhood.
“They call my neighborhood ?Crip city,? ” she said, referring to the gang. “I know peopleas young as 6 in gangs,” she said.
Josh, 17, who lives in east Baltimore, said police need to be more active in his community. “They see people we know are dealing drugs, but nothing happens. They need to get out of their cars,” he said.
As the young citizens broke off into smaller groups for more in-depth talks, middle school students led a frank discussion on the problems they face.
“Someone offered to sell me a bag of weed in class,” said a young boy named Ray.
“I used to go to the recreation center, but I can?t anymore,” he said. “There?s too much trouble.”
English said he is planning meetings over the next several months, culminating with the presentation of a formal agenda to all the mayoral hopefuls in June. Meanwhile, Shey said she is thankful to have the opportunity to share her ideas.
“We need to let them [mayoral candidates] know the city is not as safe as it used to be.”
