Ubuntu Community Safe Center
Donation protected
Gun violence claimed the lives of several young men from Price Hill during 2019. The two youngest victims were only 14 years old. Our community began asking why this was happening and how we could prevent it. We realized our youth were facing many difficult challenges: many of our young people were struggling to survive and be successful because their families were struggling to survive and be successful. We recognized that for many of our families displacement driven by poverty, policy, and development was the norm. Displacement created additional fractures in families, and severed relationships to community that were frequently never reestablished. We also recognized that during the period of time when these forces were undermining families, the social network for addressing these challenges was thinning and failing. Other than youth programming through the city recreation center and some struggling sports programs, there are almost no programs available within our communities, and even the very minimal fees charged by CRC often made those programs unaccessible to some.
When a young person is killed by gun violence, the question often asked is "Where was their family?" We came to understand that many of our families face difficulties they are not equipped to meet and are unable to rise to the challenge of addressing them.
All of this has left our youth with little support or options.
Our community determined that to make a difference, change would need to begin with the community because asking already challenged youth and families to save themselves has proven ineffective. Social service agencies and policy are not making enough difference in the lives of our young people to save them from street violence. A new approach is needed.
The Ubuntu Community Safe Center is the place where our community has decided to take that new approach. Community members are focused on making an impact on youth and families through care and outreach, by establishing relationships with our families and young people and recognizing their humanity and their basic need for belonging and support which must occur for them to be successful.
Price Hill Will has recently acquired several buildings on Warsaw Avenue, and has generously allowed the community use of one of those buildings at 3108 Warsaw Avenue. The building has basic utilities and is in relatively decent shape, but needs some rehabilitation to allow it to be used for the Community Safe Center. That work is being done by committed community members, including youth from our community who are learning some skills while making a difference in the community. We are already seeing positive changes in our community and for our young people. We are seeing hope and a beginning sense of belonging and community in our young people and we want to see that continue and grow.
We are in need of money for rehabilitation and operation of the building. Even small amounts will make a huge difference! The cost of a coffee will buy a box of drywall screws. The cost of a T-shirt will buy a sheet of drywall or a length of PVC pipe. $25 will buy a box of floor tiles. $100 will pay for utilities for a month. You can make a difference and help save the lives of our young people.
When a young person is killed by gun violence, the question often asked is "Where was their family?" We came to understand that many of our families face difficulties they are not equipped to meet and are unable to rise to the challenge of addressing them.
All of this has left our youth with little support or options.
Our community determined that to make a difference, change would need to begin with the community because asking already challenged youth and families to save themselves has proven ineffective. Social service agencies and policy are not making enough difference in the lives of our young people to save them from street violence. A new approach is needed.
The Ubuntu Community Safe Center is the place where our community has decided to take that new approach. Community members are focused on making an impact on youth and families through care and outreach, by establishing relationships with our families and young people and recognizing their humanity and their basic need for belonging and support which must occur for them to be successful.
Price Hill Will has recently acquired several buildings on Warsaw Avenue, and has generously allowed the community use of one of those buildings at 3108 Warsaw Avenue. The building has basic utilities and is in relatively decent shape, but needs some rehabilitation to allow it to be used for the Community Safe Center. That work is being done by committed community members, including youth from our community who are learning some skills while making a difference in the community. We are already seeing positive changes in our community and for our young people. We are seeing hope and a beginning sense of belonging and community in our young people and we want to see that continue and grow.
We are in need of money for rehabilitation and operation of the building. Even small amounts will make a huge difference! The cost of a coffee will buy a box of drywall screws. The cost of a T-shirt will buy a sheet of drywall or a length of PVC pipe. $25 will buy a box of floor tiles. $100 will pay for utilities for a month. You can make a difference and help save the lives of our young people.
Organizer
Sheila Rosenthal
Organizer
Cincinnati, OH
