Rashad Byrdsong doesn’t like to talk about how long he has been trying to combat street violence, because he’s been at it for more than a decade. But following the shooting that took place outside an August 14 midget football game in Homewood, the founder of the Community Empowerment Association has redoubled his efforts and is working to create what he calls a Peace Alliance Network.

COMMUNITY RESOLVE—From left: Reggie Roberts of B-PEP, former McKeesport Mayor Austin Davis, CEA program coordinator Lee Davis and McKeesport Councilwoman V. Fawn Walker, and CEA founder Rashad Byrdsong, right, implores McKeesport residents to stop the violence following a June triple homicide.

“We’ve been at this for years, there have been vigils and marches, yet the violence is still here,” he said. “Now we are trying to develop a network of community residents who can come at this issue with some kind of impact.”

Despite the bitter wind that blew through the Freedom Corner monument, a dedicated group that included police, prison officials, clergy, anti-violence and offender advocates announced a new partnership to stem violence and reduce recidivism.

Perhaps none more dedicated than Rev. Glenn Grayson and his wife Marsha, whose 18-year-old son Jeron was fatally shot while at a party just 12 days earlier on Oct. 17.

DIVINE GUIDANCE—As Rev. Glenn Grayson and his wife, Marsha, who recently lost their son to gun violence look on, Building Bridges Program Manager Jonathan Backers and Divine Intervention Ministries Founder Debra Germany announce a partnership to reintegrate offenders to society. (Photo by J.L. Martello).

“My wife and family and I find answers and strength in prayer,” he said. “We lost a son to a man who had been incarcerated. He’s going to have to atone, but everyone like Keith Jones (the shooter) deserves a second chance.”

Dropout rates are increasing in urban areas across the country. As a result of factors associated with poverty many students see little value in spending their days at school when many already find it necessary to work full time jobs. For others school becomes more of social affair where they quickly fall behind in their education and become overwhelmed.

ONE ON ONE—Teacher Frank Machi, left, helps student Sean Barnes. (Photo by Ashley G. Woodson).

Enter Bridges to Success, a dropout prevention program that offers an alternative brand of education with a shorter school day and smaller class sizes. Housed at Clayton Academy, the program provides students with a high school diploma from their home school upon completion of the district’s requirements.

With 83 homicides thus far in the year, we are only five away from surpassing that of 2009’s count of 87 for the whole year. Again the list was dominated by killings of Black males and they were all under the age of 30. The life expectancy for Black males is rapidly falling. What message are we sending to our young people?

When asking various community leaders, politicians and residents within the Black community what the reason and solutions for the senseless violence, many say, the troubled economy, the lack of quality education, just to name a few. But no longer can we use that as an excuse.