♪ >> GOOD MORNING AND WELCOME TO THE FIRST EPISODE OF "WTAE LISTENS." EVERY SUNDAY MORNING, WE WILL STRIVE TO LISTEN TO THE PEOPLE WHO LIVE IN AND AROUND PITTSBURGH ABOUT THE ISSUES THEY SEE IN THEIR COMMUNITIES AND THE PEOPLE THEY SEE TRYING TO MAKE THINGS BETTER. THIS WEEK WE ARE EXPLORING THE ONGOING YOUTH VIOLENCE IN THE CITY OF PITTSBURGH AND WHY IT IS HAPPENING. AND WHAT PROGRAMS ARE OUT THERE WORKING TO PREVENT IT. >> I LOST THE FIRST ONE, THEN I LOST THE SECOND ONE, THEN I LOST THE THIRD ONE. >> SHE SHARES HOW DEEPLY SHE FEELS THE STING OF DEATH. ALL THREE OF HER SONS WERE KILLED BY GUNFIRE BETWEEN 2001 AND 2012. ALL DIED BEFORE THEIR 20TH BIRTHDAY. >> EVERYONE I BURIED EACH SON I FELT LIKE A PART OF ME WAS GOING DOWN WITH THEM. I FEEL LIKE I HAVE THREE LIFE SENTENCES. >> HE PERFORMED THE EULOGY. SADLY, HE HAS EULOGIZED MANY MORE VICTIMS OF GUN VIOLENCE. >> I BELIVE TO A LARGE DEGREE IT STARTED IN THE 90’S WITH GANGS. MOVING THROUGH THAT, IT GOT WORSE, NOT BETTER. SIMPLY BECAUSE IT BECAME ACCEPTED. NOW IT HAS BECOME A WAY OF LIFE. THAT IS A HUGE PROBLEM. >> BUT WHY? WHY IS THE CULTURE OF GUN VIOLENCE RAGING THROUGH SOME OF PITTSBURGH’S COMMUNITIES? >> I WOULD THINK THAT SHOOTING SOMEONE IS NOT THAT MUCH OF A BIG DEAL. THEY KNOW IT IS AN OPTION. IF I DON’T LIKE THIS OR I DON’T LIKE THAT. >> IT IS A WAY FOR THEM TO GET ATTENTION. A WAY FOR THEM TO FEEL LIKE THERE IS SOMEBODY. THEY SEE IT ALMOST AS AN ACCOMPLISHMENT. THEY DID SOMETHING THAT PEOPLE WILL REMEMBER THEM FOR. >> 31 HOMICIDE VICTIMS UNDER THE AGE OF 20 LAST YEAR. MANY OF THEM KILLED IN SHOOTING THAT ALSO LEFT OTHERS INJURED. 18 OF THE VICTIMS WERE AGED 17 OR YOUNGER. A ONE-YEAR-OLD WAS SHOT INSIDE A CAR IN THE CENTRAL BUSINESS DISTRICT. A 17-YEAR-OLD WAS SHOT AND KILLED DURING A CROWDED PARTY AT AN AIRBNB IN EAST ALLEGHENY. ANOTHER SEVEN-TIME -- 17 HOMICIDE VICTIMS IN 2021. THAT IS UP FROM 11 IN 2020. A REPORT FOUND THAT HOMICIDES IN THE AREA ARE OVERWHELMINGLY DRIVEN BY GUN VIOLENCE. THE COUNTY REPORTED THAT THEY HAVE BEEN KILLED BY FIREARMS. WE BEGAN WITH A QUESTION 70 WHY ARE SOME OF THE YOUNG PEOPLE TURNING TO VIOLENCE? WE SIT DOWN WITH A COUPLE OF MEN WHO KNOW THE NEIGHBORHOODS. EACH HAS AN UNDERSTANDING OF WHY YOUTH THINK VIOLENCE IS THE ONLY ANSWER. OUR FIRST GUEST IS THE PRESIDENT AND CEO OF THE COMMUNITY EMPOWERMENT ASSOCIATION. HE IS AN ASSOCIATE PROFESSOR AT THE UNIVERSITY OF PITTSBURGH. YOU CREATED THE COMMUNITY POWER MEANT -- EMPOWERMENT ASSOCIATION IS A GRASSROOTS COMMUNITY ORGANIZATION. BEFORE WE GET INTO THAT, A LITTLE BIT ABOUT YOUR BACKGROUND. WHAT BROUGHT YOU IN TO THIS AREA OF COMMUNITY SERVICE? >> I AM A FORMER MEMBER OF THE BLACK PANTHER PARTY. FROM SEATTLE WE WENT TO OAKLAND AND SAN FRANCISCO. A BIG PART OF THE BLACK PANTHER PARTY WAS SERVING THE COMMUNITY. WE DID SICKLE-CELL TESTING. WE HAVE POLITICAL EDUCATION CLASSES FOR THE COMMUNITY. OUR SIGNATURE PIECE WAS FREE BREAKFAST FOR CHILDREN. >> YOUR WORK WITH THE UNIVERSITY OF PITTSBURGH GOES BACK A LONG TIME. YOU HAVE ROOTS IN THE STREETS OF PHILADELPHIA. THAT BROUGHT YOU TO PITTSBURGH. TELL US MORE ABOUT THAT. >> I AM A FORMER GANG MEMBER FROM PHILADELPHIA. I SPENT OVER 23 YEARS OF MY LIFE TO THE CRIMINAL JUSTICE SYSTEM. >> NOW YOU WORK WITH THE UNIVERSITY OF PITTSBURGH. YOU STARTED A PROGRAM. YOU ARE WORKING WITH PEOPLE IN THE STREETS WHO HAVE BEEN AFFECTED BY GUN VIOLENCE. >> I GO INTO THE FOUR MAJOR TRAUMA UNIONS. -- UNITS. >> THE QUESTION IS, WHY? WHAT ARE THE CIRCUMSTANCES DRIVING YOUNG PEOPLE TO USE GUN VIOLENCE AS A SOLUTION? >> WE NEED TO LOOK AT WHAT INCUBATES IT. AND DO MORE WORK AROUND THAT. THAT IS WHERE I THINK WE SEE THE SITUATION WITH WHAT IT IS NOW. WE NEED TO GET GUNS OFF OF THE STREET. WE NEED TO WORK WITH YOUNG PEOPLE MORE. WE NEED TO BRING ALL THE STAKEHOLDERS TOGETHER TO WORK WITH YOUNG PEOPLE. >> SOCIAL MEDIA HAS REALLY BEEN ONE OF THE THINGS THAT HAS EXASPERATED THIS PROBLEM. WE HAVE HAD DIFFERENT HOUSING COMMUNITIES CLOSE. WE SEE GENTRIFICATION. IN AFRICAN-AMERICAN NEIGHBORHOODS. THEY ARE PUSHING THESE FAMILIES OUT. SINGLE-PARENT FAMILIES. DRUGS IS AN ISSUE. >> THE COMMON THREAD TO ME IS SYSTEMIC. WE TALKING ABOUT A CULTURE OF POVERTY. A LACK OF EMPLOYMENT OPPORTUNITIES. UNDERPERFORMING SCHOOLS. LACK OF HOUSING. WE ARE TALKING ABOUT THE BASIC FUNDAMENTAL THINGS THAT PEOPLE NEED TO SUSTAIN THEMSELVES. >> WHEN YOU TALK TO SOME OF THESE GUNSHOT VICTIMS, DO YOU EVER GET INTO THE WHY? WHY WERE THEY A VICTIM AND WHAT IS THE BACKGROUND BETWEEN THEMSELVES AND THE PERPETRATOR SHOT THEM? >> TRYING TO FIND OUT WHO THEY ARE FEUDING WITH. A LOT OF TIMES MANY OF THEM KNOW WHO SHOT THEM OR WHAT THE REASON WAS. >> DO THEY TELL YOU WHY? >> DRUGS IS AT THE FOUNDATION OF A LOT OF STUFF. A LOT OF WOMEN HAVE BEEN SHOT. WE FIRST STARTED, IT MIGHT’VE BEEN SIX WOMEN WHO GOT SHOT. NOW WE ARE UP INTO THE 20’S AND 30’S. >> YOU HAVE A LOT OF DOMESTIC, EMOTIONAL, MENTAL HEALTH. INTERACTING OF THE LEVEL THEY ARE. A BREAKDOWN OF STRUCTURE. >> WHAT GETS INTO THE MIND OF A YOUNG PERSON TO GET THEM TO SHOOT? WHAT GETS INTO A YOUNG PERSON? >> DAD IS NOT AROUND. MOM IS STRUGGLING. >> IT IS THE INTERNALIZATION OF TRAUMA. PEOPLE ARE TRAUMATIZED. YOU CAN TELL A SOUL OF THE SOUL OF A NATION BY ITS CHILDREN. >> OUR GREATEST ASSET IS THE COMMUNITY. WE DON’T PUT ENOUGH RESOURCES IN THE COMMUNITY. >> WE HAVE TO LOOK AT EARLY CHILDHOOD. COGNITIVE DEVELOPMENT. THE ROLE THAT THE SCHOOLS PLAY WITH YOUNG PEOPLE. THE HOUSEHOLD THAT YOUNG PEOPLE COME FROM. SCHOOLS PLAY A MAJOR ROLE. >> WHERE WE GO FROM HERE? >> ACCESS TO THE EARLY SUPPORTS AND SERVICES. HOW DO WE MAKE SURE THERE ARE BETTER CONNECTIONS? >> WE TAKE A DIVE INTO THE PROGRAMS AVAILABLE TO HELP FAMILIES. >> SO FAR WE HAVE TALKED ABOUT THE WHY OF YOUTH VIOLENCE. A SYSTEM BEGAN RIGHT HERE IN ALLEGHENY COUNTY. THIS IS THE FIRST OF ITS KIND TYPE OF NETWORK OPERATION IN ALLEGHENY COUNTY. WE HAVE THE CEO. WHAT IS THIS? >> CARING CONNECTIONS FOR YOUTH IS A NETWORK THAT WAS CREATED BY THE BLACK GIRLS EQUITY ALLIANCE. IT IS IMPORTANT FOR US TO TRY TO LOOK AT WHAT OTHER RESOURCES IN OUR COMMUNITIES TO ADDRESS THE ISSUES BEFORE THEY BECOME A PROBLEM? NOT AFTER. WE WANTED TO ADDRESS THE DISPROPORTIONATE RATE OF BLACK YOUTH IN OUR JUSTICE SYSTEM. THERE ARE A LOT OF CASES THAT COME TO THE ATTENTION OF THE COURTS. THEY CAN BE ADDRESSED IN OUR COMMUNITIES. THEY HAVE A GREAT AMOUNT OF WONDERFUL PROGRAMS IN OUR COMMUNITIES. >> WHAT ARE THE ISSUES KIDS ARE GOING THROUGH? >> AS WE STARTED TO LOOK AT THE CASES AND DIG THROUGH THE DATA, WE UNDERSTAND IT IS NOT JUST OUR KIDS. THERE ARE SITUATIONS THAT NEED TO BE ADDRESSED. OUR GOAL IS TO MAKE SURE THEY GET SUPPORT AND SERVICES EARLY ON TO PREVENT ANY FUTURE BEHAVIORS. WHAT WE WANTED TO DO WAS GET THEM THE SUPPORTS AND SERVICES AND UNDERSTAND WHAT IS GOING ON. >> YOU FOR -- YOU PUT YOUR FINGER ON THE PULSE AND THEN YOU GET THEM HELP. >> ABSOLUTELY. >> TELL US HOW THIS WORKS. IF I’M IN A COMMUNITY AND I SEE A CHILD WHO I THINK IS VULNERABLE, I CALL 211. THAT GETS ME ACCESS TO CARING CONNECTIONS. >> OPTION NUMBER THREE, YES. >> WHAT HAPPENS NEXT? >> WE HAVE RELATIONSHIPS THAT ARE BUILT IN THESE COMMUNITIES. BUILDING RELATIONSHIPS WITH THE SCHOOLS. ALSO FAMILIES AND THE COMMUNITY. >> HOW SOON AFTER THAT INITIAL PHONE CALL? IF I CALL AND I SPEAK TO SOMEONE ON OUTLINE, HOW SOON AFTER MY PHONE CALL WILL I CONNECT WITH A FAMILY? >> WITHIN 24 HOURS. WE WILL BE SITTING DOWN DOING AN ASSESSMENT. OFTEN THE FAMILIES KNOW WHAT THEY NEED. THE RESOURCE COORDINATORS WILL HAVE THE PULSE ON THE COMMUNITY. >> THIS IS THE FIRST OF ITS KIND IN ALLEGHENY COUNTY.- YOU ARE PARTNERING WITH MORE THAN 50 GOVERNMENT AND NONPROFIT AGENCIES. >> ABSOLUTELY. WE HAVE HAD CONTACT WITH SCHOOL DISTRICTS. AND LOCAL POLICE AND SCHOOL-BASED POLICE. AND YOUNG PEOPLE. OFTENTIMES WE DEVELOP POLICIES AND PRACTICES AND DON’T THINK ABOUT THE PEOPLE BEING IMPACTED THE MOST. WE SAW THERE WAS A GAP IN ACCESS SO WE KNOW OUR COLLEAGUES IN COMMUNITIES. >> YOU CAN REACH US THROUGH 211. WE ALSO HAVE WHERE YOU CAN TEXT NOW. AND ON OUR WEBSITE. >> HELPING TEENS ACHIEVE GOALS IS ANOTHER ORGANIZATION THAT STRIVES TO KEEP THEM OUT OF THE JUSTICE SYSTEM. >> IS A SAFE SPACE. A SPACE FOR THEM TO COME AND HAVE FUN AND BE A KID AND BE THEMSELVES. TO LEARN THINGS THEY MAYBE WOULD NOT LEARN IN OTHER PLACES. >> THE ORGANIZATIONS ON THE NORTH SIDE OFFERING COMMUNITY-BASED OPPORTUNITIES. >> ONE THING PEOPLE HAS TOLD US IS COMMUNITY IS IMPORTANT. THAT IS ONE THING THAT THE PITTSBURGH PROJECT STRIVES TO DO. YOU ARE THE EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR OF THE PITTSBURGH PROJECT. WE NEED TO LET EVERYONE KNOW WE ARE IN A BUILDING THAT IS OVER 100 YEARS OLD. TELL US ABOUT THIS BUILDING. >> IT WAS THE ANNUNCIATION SCHOOL BACK IN THE DAY. RUNNING ALL OF OUR YOUTH PROGRAMMING. >> WHAT IS THE PITTSBURGH PROJECT? WHAT IS YOUR MISSION? >> TO SHARE HOPE AND EMPOWER YOUNG PEOPLE AND DEVELOP COMMUNITIES. TO REACH THESE COMMUNITIES. TO REACH THE YOUNG FOLK. DURING THE AFTERSCHOOL TIME, WE HAVE ABOUT 100 KIDS IN OUR PROGRAM. >> THIS PROGRAM IS FACILITATED BY TEACHERS AND MENTORS? >> YES. WE HAVE FULL-TIME AND PART-TIME STAFF. >> ONE THING 70 PEOPLE HAVE TOLD US, COMMUNITY IS IMPORTANT. IN KEEPING YOUTH FROM TURNING TO VIOLENCE. THAT IS ONE THING THAT THE PITTSBURGH PROJECT STRIVES TO DO. WE ARE SPEAKING WITH THE EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR OF THE PITTSBURGH PROJECT. WE ARE IN A BUILDING THAT IS NEARLY 100 YEARS OLD. TELL US ABOUT THIS BUILDING. >> THE ANNUNCIATION SCHOOL IS WHAT IT WAS BACK IN THE DAY. WE HAVE BEEN IN THE SPACE FOR ABOUT 30 YEARS NOW RUNNING ALL OF OUR YOUTH PROGRAMS. WE WANT TO DEVELOP COMMUNITIES. TO SHOW THEM THERE ARE BETTER OPTIONS IN THE WORLD. >> THIS PROGRAM IS FACILITATED BY TEACHERS AND MENTORS? >> WE HAVE MORE PART-TIME STAFF. THEY WORK WITH THE STUDENTS DURING THE AFTERSCHOOL TIME. >> DO YOU TALK TO YOUR KIDS? ABOUT THE YOUTH GUN VIOLENCE? WHAT IS THE CONVERSATION LIKE? >> WE TALK ABOUT ALL THE HARD THINGS PEOPLE ARE DEALING WITH. WITH THE ELEMENTARY STUDENTS, AS THINGS COME UP AND THEY HAVE CERTAIN ISSUES, WE WILL HAVE GENERAL CONVERSATIONS WITH THE YOUNGER KIDS. A CHECK IN TO DO EVERY -- MAKE SURE EVERYTHING IS OK. MIDDLE SCHOOL STUDENTS OR MAYBE SEEING THINGS IN A DIFFERENT WAY. WE WILL HAVE CONVERSATIONS WITH THEM. THERE ARE THINGS HAPPENING IN THE COMMUNITY. WE WILL TRY OUR BEST TO HELP STUDENTS PROCESS. >> THEY KNOW THE VICTIMS AND THE SHOOTERS. WHAT ARE THEY SAYING IN REGARDS TO WHY THIS IS HAPPENING? >> THE YOUNG KIDS WILL SHARE SOME. AND THEN THERE IS SOME THEY DO NOT WANT TO SHARE. THEY KNOW THESE THINGS ARE REALITY. THEY SHARE ABOUT THE THINGS THAT SCARE THEM, THE THINGS THAT MAKE THEM NERVOUS. THERE ARE LIMITS TO WHAT THEY WILL SHARE. THEY DON’T WANT TO GET CAUGHT UP IN A SITUATION.- >> I HAVE HEARD FROM MIDDLE SCHOOL STUDENTS THAT SOCIAL MEDIA IS A DETRIMENT. I HAVE HEARD THIS FROM TEENAGERS WHO SAY THEY ARE SO LOCKED UP IN SOCIAL MEDIA, SO GLUED TO THEIR SMART PHONES, THEY ARE BEING EDUCATED BY THESE ADVICE -- DEVICES. >> PUT YOUR PHONE AWAY. WE KNOW THERE IS SO MUCH KIDS CAN SEE ON THE INTERNET. THEY GET CAUGHT UP AND THEY SEE THESE PEOPLE LIVING THESE LIFESTYLES. YOU CAN START TO BELIEVE IT AND TRY TO LIVE UP TO IT. >> FROM YOUR PERSPECTIVE, THE FIRST QUESTION IS WHY DO YOU -- HOW DO YOU STEER KIDS AWAY FROM THE TEMPTATION TO PICK UP AGAIN AND USE IT? >> BEING HERE AND HAVING OPEN DOORS. THEY CAN KNOW WHEN THEY COME HERE, IT IS A SAFE SPACE. THEY CAN, AND HAVE FUN. BE A KID. BE THEMSELVES. THAT IS ONE OF THE MAIN THINGS THAT WE DO. THAT HOPE WE SHARE, WHEN WE ARE HERE, WE CAN TRY TO FILL THEIR TIME. THEY ARE CREATING AND HAVING FUN AND DOING THINGS. >> STAY WITH US. OUR REQUEST OF THE VIEWERS WHEN WE COME BACK. >> AS WE BRING THIS FIRST EPISODE OF "WTAE LISTENS" TO AN AND, WE HAVE A REQUEST OF YOU AT HOME. TELL US ABOUT WHAT IS WRONG. AND WHAT IS RIGHT IN YOUR AREA. SO WE CAN LISTEN TO THOSE WHO HAVE THE ABILITY TO MAKE CHANGES. YOU CAN SEND US AN EMAIL. THANK YOU FOR JOINING US AND HAVE A GOOD WEEK. [CAPTIONING PERFORMED BY THE NATIONAL CAPTIONING INSTITUTE, WHICH IS RESPONSIBLE FOR ITS CAPTION CONTENT AND ACCURACY. VISIT NCICAP.ORG] ♪