Russell Simmons is raising up an army in Trenton, NJ.
“‘We want to get men from the community and train them so they can move through the streets, so they can exude a positive attitude and presence,’ Simmons said. ‘Their job is not to patrol in the same way that police patrol.’
These peacekeepers will wear orange jackets and carry cards declaring their membership in the program.
Simmons said that the peacekeepers’ presence spreads a sense through the community that things are changing for the better.
‘People see that kind of presence, and they see it within the community … it kind of exudes a feeling that, really, is love. Instead of brute force, it’s love.”
Later, the article goes on to say that this same organization (Educating Neighborhoods to Obey Those in Authority or ENOTA) has been successful in both New York and Delaware. But the organization’s own website does not provide any details on those successes.
While I certainly applaud the effort, raising up a group of men en masse to do something like this FOR FREE is no easy task. Just look back at the Call to Action: 10,000 Men: It’s a New Day in Philadelphia initiative back in 2007. While it was certainly exciting to see a gathering of thousands of men who wanted to see change in that city, it did not take long to see that not everybody is willing to do the hard work.
Because I have seen this personally happen so many time with other organizations, I have come to the conclusion that mentoring the few to raise the many is the most effective way of seeding change in a community. Jesus had that concept down with his 12 disciples.
While showing up to an event such as the one that took place in Trenton does inspire, that alone does not qualify the participants as “leaders” (something that is desperately needed in these communities). While some leaders are born with that skill, I think that the majority are crafted and made by other individuals who took the time to invest something more than a “stop the violence” t-shirt.
Secondly, not everybody is cut out to be a leader of other people–and that is okay.
Strapping an orange jacket on brutha who may be more effective spreading the word about the organization online or raising money is self defeating to any organization. Let’s face it, not everybody was meant to patrol streets filled with hardened criminals. We need men who can inspire scared residents while at the same time earn the respect from kids who are used to getting what they want from easily-intimidated adults (and I’m talking about kids who don’t carry a gun).
I may have more on this topic later.
The Orange Jackets Are Coming To Trenton
by Duane on April 9th, 2010 at 8:55 amRussell Simmons is raising up an army in Trenton, NJ.
Later, the article goes on to say that this same organization (Educating Neighborhoods to Obey Those in Authority or ENOTA) has been successful in both New York and Delaware. But the organization’s own website does not provide any details on those successes.
While I certainly applaud the effort, raising up a group of men en masse to do something like this FOR FREE is no easy task. Just look back at the Call to Action: 10,000 Men: It’s a New Day in Philadelphia initiative back in 2007. While it was certainly exciting to see a gathering of thousands of men who wanted to see change in that city, it did not take long to see that not everybody is willing to do the hard work.
Because I have seen this personally happen so many time with other organizations, I have come to the conclusion that mentoring the few to raise the many is the most effective way of seeding change in a community. Jesus had that concept down with his 12 disciples.
While showing up to an event such as the one that took place in Trenton does inspire, that alone does not qualify the participants as “leaders” (something that is desperately needed in these communities). While some leaders are born with that skill, I think that the majority are crafted and made by other individuals who took the time to invest something more than a “stop the violence” t-shirt.
Secondly, not everybody is cut out to be a leader of other people–and that is okay.
Strapping an orange jacket on brutha who may be more effective spreading the word about the organization online or raising money is self defeating to any organization. Let’s face it, not everybody was meant to patrol streets filled with hardened criminals. We need men who can inspire scared residents while at the same time earn the respect from kids who are used to getting what they want from easily-intimidated adults (and I’m talking about kids who don’t carry a gun).
I may have more on this topic later.