May 23, 2022 Joint Ward 3 Roundtable Discussion Mayor Samuel Parham & School Board Chairman Kenneth Pritchett

[Joint Ward 3 Roundtable Discussion Mayor Samuel Parham & School Board Chairman Kenneth Pritchett1]

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EVERYONE. THANK EVERYONE FOR JOINING US FOR THIS ROUND TABLE DISCUSSION TONIGHT, I'M SAYING PAM MARY HAD THE CITY OF PETERSBURG JOINED WITH SCHOOL BOARD CHAIR CAN HAVE PRITCHARD.

UM AND WE HAVE OUR MODERATED FOR TONIGHT, MISS TERRY SMITH. AND THIS IS ABOUT THE ONGOING COMPLEX ISSUE THAT WE'RE DEALING WITH HEARING WITH GUN VIOLENCE IN OUR CITY, AND TONIGHT IS JUST TO START. IT'S JUST THE BEGINNING OF THESE ROUNDTABLES THAT WE'RE GOING TO DO, UM, ENGAGING OUR COMMUNITY FIRST. THANK EACH AND EVERY ONE OF YOU ALL FOR COMING OUT TO HAVE THIS DISCUSSION BECAUSE WE NEED EVERYONE IN THIS ROOM TO MOVE THE DOUBT ON. THIS IS NO QUICK FIX, BUT IT TAKES ALL OF US COMING TOGETHER LIKE WE HAVE TONIGHT. SO AT THIS TIME, I WILL LIKE TO INTRODUCE MY RATE OF MISS TERRY SMITH. GOOD EVENING, EVERYONE. MICROPHONES AND I DON'T GET ALONG. I'M ALREADY ALREADY HAVE A HEAVY VOICE. IT IS SO BEAUTIFUL TO SEE ALL OF YOU HERE THIS EVENING. WELCOME WELCOME. WELCOME TO EACH OF YOU. THANK YOU FOR TAKING TIME OUT OF A MONDAY NIGHT. HOPEFULLY IT WON'T BE RAINING WHEN WE LEAVE HERE TONIGHT, SO WE JUST WANT TO WELCOME YOU. SIT BACK. RELAX WE ASK THAT YOU PLEASE BE ATTENTIVE. TO EVERYTHING THAT IS BEING SAID THIS EVENING. YOU CAN TAKE NOTES. BUT WHAT I DO ASK IS THAT YOU HOLD JUDGMENT. UM THIS IS THE FIRST OF MANY TO COME. BECAUSE WE KNOW THAT THE PROBLEMS THAT WE'RE HAVING THERE IS NO QUICK FIX FOR ANY OF THIS, AND IT'S GOING TO TAKE SEVERAL TIMES OF US COMING TO THE TABLE.

UM TO TRY TO PUT A HOLD TO WHAT'S GOING ON IN THE CITY. JUST TO GIVE YOU A LITTLE BACKGROUND ABOUT ME. MY NAME IS TERRY SMITH. UM I HAVE BEEN TEACHING IN PETERSBURG FOR 26 OR 27 YEARS. SO I HAVE SOME FORMER STUDENTS IN HERE. I STARTED A PEABODY WITH EIGHTH GRADE. I GOT SOME FORMER STUDENTS IN HERE. Y'ALL KNOW I'M JUST LIKE THIS IN THE CLASSROOM, SO I'M GONNA BE LIKE THIS TONIGHT. I'M SORRY. THAT'S JUST ME. OKAY UM, AND I HAVE SOME CURRENT STUDENTS IN HERE. TELL HIM I'M JUST LIKE THIS IN THE CLASSROOM. RIGHT OKAY. UM SO WE WANT TO WELCOME YOU AGAIN. UM I WANT TO INTRODUCE THE PANEL AND I'M JUST GOING TO GO AROUND. AND INTRODUCED EVERYONE, SO YOU ALL WILL KNOW WE HAVE CITY OFFICIALS . WE GOT CITIZENS. WE HAVE JUST SOME OF EVERYONE HERE TONIGHT AND I'M SORRY FROM GO KEEP PASSING BY YOU ALL. BUT I CAN'T KEEP SEALED. THEY THEY HAD ME SITTING DOWN. I CAN'T DO THAT. SO WE HAVE FROM THE BOYS AND GIRLS CLUB, MR SEAN MILLER HERE. WE HAVE FROM PETERSBURG PARKS AND LEISURE SERVICES, MR. MARQUEES ALLEN, WE HAVE MY ASSISTANT PASTOR, MOUNT OLIVET BAPTIST CHURCH, REVEREND JAMISON MCLAUGHLIN. WE HAVE FROM HIGHER WEIGHT MINISTRIES. BISHOP DARREN GAY SENIOR. FROM COMMUNITY CORRECTIONS, MR NICOLE LOVING FROM PETERSBURG POLICE DEPARTMENT. MISS JOHNNY GENEVIEVE. LAURA I GOT IT. FROM THE ON THE DEPUTY CITY MANAGER, MS TANGELA ENNIS, CORRECT AND THE INTERIM CITY MANAGER, MR KENNETH MILLER. OUR CHIEF OF POLICE CHIEF TRAVIS CHRISTIAN.

THE MAYOR OF PETERSBURG, MR SAM PARAM. FROM PETERSBURG SCHOOL BOARD CHAIRMAN MR KENNETH RICHARD. OUR SOON TO BE YOUR ACTING SUPERINTENDENT, DR JULIUS HAMLIN. ALSO FROM PETERSBURG.

PUBLIC SCHOOLS ARE BEHAVIORAL SPECIALIST MISS TORY WHITE. NOW. THE GREATEST ONES. WE HAVE THE PARENT OF MR TALIC LAWRENCE, A SENIOR AT PETERSBURG HIGH SCHOOL , STAND UP TALLY. I'M OUT FOR THE CHERRY AND HIS MOM. MR CONDRA ROBINSON. A JUNIOR FROM PETERSBURG HIGH SCHOOL MITTS.

MARITSA SCOTT. YEP. STAND UP. AND HER MOM, MR ALICIA PIT. THANK YOU ALL ALL OFFER, JUST JOINING US. NOW I DO NEED TO LAY DOWN A LITTLE GROUND RULES. THIS IS NOT A DEBATE. OKAY BUT WE HAVE A LOT OF PANELISTS, AND WE HAD A LOT OF QUESTIONS SO PANELISTS. I'M GOING TO ASK WHEN I DO ASK THESE QUESTIONS TO YOU THAT YOU PLEASE KEEP YOUR ANSWERS AS CONCISE AS POSSIBLE.

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WE ARE GONNA HAVE TO PASS A MIC IN ORDER TO SO THAT EVERYBODY CAN BE HEARD. THESE ARE THE ONLY STATIONARY ONES UP HERE. SO WE DO HAVE ANOTHER MIC THAT WE'RE GOING TO PASS, BUT WE JUST WANT EVERYBODY TO ENJOY WANT TO GET EVERYTHING OUT, AND WE'RE NOT GOING TO COVER EVERY QUESTION.

TONIGHT BUT WE'RE GOING TO GET TO HIS MANY AS WE CAN. OKAY SO IF THERE ARE NO QUESTIONS, AND EVERYBODY'S READY TO GO OKAY. I HEARD THAT I NEED TO START WITH MR MILLER. CORRECT CITY MANAGER.

SO, MR MILLER WE HAVE THE OTHER MICROPHONE, OKAY? AS THE INTERIM CITY CITY MANAGER. YOU SHOULD HAVE YOUR HANDS ON THE PULSE OF WHAT'S GOING ON IN THE CITY AND WHAT THE CITY NEEDS AND WHAT THE CITY IS DOING. SO CAN YOU SHARE WITH US, PLEASE? HOW MUCH FUNDING IN THE 2022 2023 BUDGET IS ALLOCATED TOWARDS PROGRAMS FOR THE YOUTH AND HOW MUCH IS ALLOCATED TOWARDS SAFETY PREVENTION? IN THE CITY. YES, MA'AM. GOOD EVENING. AND THANK YOU FOR EVERYONE WHO'S COMING.

AND THUS FAR WE'VE HAD ALLOCATED PARKS AND LEISURE $590,000. MUSEUMS $10 MILLION HAS GONE TO THE SCHOOLS. WE PARTNERED WITH VIRGINIA STATE UNIVERSITY FOR SOME SUMMER PROGRAMS. AS WELL AS THE SCHOOLS. WE'VE JUST UM AND I'M GOING TO THINK THAT ALL RIGHT, UM, SUPERINTENDENT AND THE ASSISTANT SUPERINTENDENT FOR WORKING WITH ME. WE HAVE A PROGRAM THAT WE'RE STARTING.

IT'S GOING TO REQUIRED ABOUT $130,000 OF CITY FUNDS TO HIRE AND EDUCATE 30 CHILDREN THIS SUMMER. THIS WAS THE MAYOR'S INITIATIVE. AND CITY COUNCIL HAS , UH, GIVING ME SOME GUIDANCE.

BUT I HAVE PARTNERED WITH MY DEPUTY CITY MANAGER AND OTHER SUPERVISORS THROUGHOUT THE CITY AND WE THINK WE HAVE A PROBLEM COMING UP. THAT'S GOING TO BE SOMETHING THAT'S DONE NOWHERE ELSE IN THE COMMONWEALTH. I THINK THAT THIS PROGRAM THAT WE HAVE COMING UP THIS SUMMER WILL IMPACT THE LIVES OF PEOPLE. SO IT'S MORE THAN JUST MONEY. IT'S MORE THAN JUST FUNDS. IT'S MORE THAN JUST TALK. IT'S ABOUT PEOPLE COMING TOGETHER, A GROUP OF US SAYING WITH OUR SCHOOL COLLEAGUES AND SAYING, WE HAVE AN OPPORTUNITY TO CHANGE THEIR LIVES, SO IT'S CLOSE TO IS CLOSE TO 11 MILLION ABOUT 10.5 HALF MILLION ALMOST $11 MILLION MAN. SO WHEN YOU SAY YOU HAVE YOUR HIRING FOR THE CITY YOU'RE TALKING ABOUT HIRING. YOUNG PEOPLE, AND THEY'LL BE WORKING FOR THE CITY. WELL IT'S A LITTLE BIT MORE THAN THAT, MA'AM, UM AND I WILL GO. I WANT TO THANK I THINK, PAM. UH SHE'S HERE. YES, AND DR HAMLIN. WE WERE IN BLANFORD AND THE HIGH SCHOOL LAST WEEK, MYSELF AND MRS ENNIS, GIVING OUT OPPORTUNITIES FOR YOUNG PEOPLE NOT JUST TO COME AND WORK FOR THE CITY. BUT THE SERVICE INTERNS FOR THE CITY IS A TWO POLE THING. IT GIVES THEM AN OPPORTUNITY TO WORK ON THEIR RESUMES EARLY AT AGE 14 AGE 15, BUT ALSO GIVES THEM AN OPPORTUNITY TO COME IN PARTNER WITH US AS CITY OFFICIALS IF YOU WILL. SIX HOURS A DAY, FIVE DAYS A WEEK, EXCEPT ON TUESDAYS AND THURSDAYS, STOP BEING WORKING WITH THE CITY FOUR HOURS AND THOSE OTHER TWO HOURS WILL BE SPENT ON LIFE BUILDING SCHOOLS SKILLS, SUCH AS LEARNING HOW TO WRITE A CHECK OR BRINGING IN FOLKS FROM THE, UH FROM DIFFERENT BRANCHES OF GOVERNMENT OR DIFFERENT JOB OPPORTUNITIES FOR THESE YOUNG FOLKS AND CARRYING IT ON FOR THE ENTIRE SUMMER. THEY'LL ALSO GET SOME TRIPS TRIPS THAT WILL BE DIFFERENT, MAYBE TO THE HOLOCAUST MUSEUM OR TO THE AFRICAN AMERICAN HISTORY MUSEUM. THINGS THAT ARE DIFFERENT. WE'VE GOT TO BE. IT'S AN ALL HANDS ON DECK APPROACH TO IMPACT OUR YOUNG FOLKS IF WE CAN DO IT WITH 30, THIS TIME WITH THIS PILOT PROGRAM. NEXT YEAR. MAYBE NEXT YEAR. WE CAN DO IT WITH 60.

AWESOME THAT'S AWESOME. AND THAT WOULD BE A GREAT OPPORTUNITY BECAUSE OUR CHILDREN NEED TO SEE HOW THE CITY WORKS. TO BE WORKING IN EVERY, UH THERE'S 20 DIFFERENT DEPARTMENTS OF THE STUDENTS CAN WORK IN. BUT AGAIN, THERE'LL BE INTERNS SO BEGINNING RECEIVING A STIPEND AND WHICH IS NON TAXABLE, WHICH HELPS THESE YOUNG PEOPLE UNDERSTAND HOW TO WORK WITH THEIR MONEY AND BANKING INSTITUTION WILL COME IN AND TALK WITH THEM AS WELL. OKAY THAT'S AWESOME. THANK YOU SO MUCH. THANK YOU SO MUCH. SO I'M GOING TO GO TO I TOLD YOU ALL THE ONES I THINK YOU KNOW. I LOVE Y'ALL. CITY OFFICIALS ARE THE ONES I THINK ARE THE MOST IMPORTANT. BECAUSE THEY'RE THE ONES THAT'S BEEN AFFECTED THE MOST. UM, THEY'RE THE ONES WHO SEE IT. THE MOST. THEY'RE THE

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YOU'RE SAYING STOP, MISS SMITH. UM HMM. THAT'S ABOUT IT. OKAY SO OUR ANSWER THERE WAS TEAM BUILDING. I'M COMING TO YOU, MR LAWRENCE. SO TALLY. BIG UPS TO YOU. TALIC WAS A MEMBER OF OR OF IS A MEMBER OF OUR PHS CRIMSON WAVE VARSITY BASKETBALL TEAM. SO CONGRATULATIONS ONCE AGAIN ON THE TEAM'S RUN TO THE STATE FINAL, UM, WATCHING YOU ALL PLAY BROUGHT A SENSE OF PRIDE BACK TO THE HIGH SCHOOL AND FOR THE SENSE OF PRIDE BACK TO THE CITY. AND THAT'S SOMETHING THAT I'VE SEEN LACKING IN THE BUILDING FOR A WHILE. I SAW THAT PRIDE AND THEN NOT LONG AFTER THE LAST GAME, IT DWINDLED AWAY. QUICKLY. SO MY QUESTION TO YOU IS WHAT DO YOU THINK IS NEEDED TO BRING THE PRIDE BACK? NOT JUST THE PETERSBURG HIGH SCHOOL BUT TO THE CITY OF PETERSBURG. SKILL I AIN'T CHANNEL TALKED THROUGHOUT. OH I THINK WE NEED MORE LIKE THAT'S CURRICULUM LIKE PROGRAM.

FOR THE KIDS. AND LIKE. LIKE THINGS LIKE LIKE RECREATION CENTERS. I PLACE FOR KIDS GO PLAY BASKETBALL FOOTBALL. BECAUSE A LOT OF KIDS IN THE HOUSE AND PLAY THE GAME IF THEY AIN'T PLAYING A GAME, THEY OUTSIDE DOING STUFF THINGS SUPPOSED TO, BECAUSE IT AIN'T REALLY NOTHING ELSE TO DO. SO I JUST FEEL LIKE WE NEED WE NEED MORE PLACES TO GO AS KIDS. TO HAVE FUN. STAY OUT OF TROUBLE. THANK YOU, SIR. AND THAT'S STAYING OUT OF TROUBLE THAT THAT BEING AT THE RECREATION CENTER PROMOTES CAMARADERIE AROUND AMONG THE STUDENTS, AND SO I THINK THAT WOULD HELP WITH SOME OF THE FRICTION THAT WE HAVE, BECAUSE NOBODY'S OUT PLAYING TOGETHER. SO DID YOU USED TO PLAY ON ANY OTHER TEENS FOR PARKS AND READ MY PLAY EVERY SPORT. I BELIEVE THAT I BELIEVE THAT. SO I WANT TO THANK YOU BOTH FOR YOUR ANSWERS. I KNOW.

Y'ALL DON'T LIKE SPEAKING IN FRONT OF PEOPLE. BUT YOU KNOW, YOU DO IT IN MY CLASS. SO HEY, UM SO THANK YOU ALL FOR YOUR ANSWERS. MAMA'S THIS IS FOR YOU. OKAY AND THANK YOU FOR ALLOWING YOUR CHILDREN TO BE HERE BECAUSE THIS IS GOOD EXPOSURE FOR THEM. ALL RIGHT, SO MANY SAY THAT THE CRIME IS HAPPENING AMONG OUR YOUTH BECAUSE THERE'S A LACK OF PARENTAL SUPPORT AND INVOLVEMENT . DO YOU AGREE? AND IF SO, HOW CAN WE REACH THE PARENTS WHO ARE NOT CONCERNED OR INVOLVED IN THEIR CHILD'S SCHOOL OR COMMUNITY? SO. EITHER BOTH CAN ANSWER. I FEEL LIKE SOME CASES THAT MAY BE THE CASE. SOME CASES. KIDS ACT DIFFERENT WHEN THEY'RE NOT RUNNING THEIR PARENTS DUE TO PEER PRESSURE, SOCIAL MEDIA SO I CAN'T PUT ALL THAT ON THE PARENTING, AND I ALSO NOTICED TOO SOON AS A KID, DO SOMETHING BAD THEY GET PUSHED AWAY. THEY DON'T WANT TO COME AROUND WHEN I FEEL LIKE THEY SHOULD BE POURED IN AND GET REDIRECTED. AND I FOUND THAT A LOT IN THE KIDS THAT DOESN'T HAVE THAT SUPPORT. I FOUND I NOTICED. WE HADN'T GROWING UP.

IF YOU GOT THAT SUPPORT, THEY'RE GONNA HELP YOU. BUT A LOT OF THEM KIDS THAT DOESN'T HAVE THAT SUPPORT GET PUSHED AWAY AND BOOM THERE IN THE STREET. AND I JUST FEEL LIKE IT. EVERYBODY APARTMENT. EVERYBODY NEEDS TO BE THE VILLAGE RIGHT RIGHT TO BE THERE AND GRANTED, I HAD A

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SOMETIMES THEY DON'T KNOW THAT THERE'S ACCESS TO CERTAIN OPPORTUNITIES OR RESOURCES AVAILABLE IN THE SCHOOL. AND THEN MAYBE IF WE MEET THEM WHERE THEY ARE AND BRING THOSE RESOURCES TO THEM INTO THE COMMUNITY. MAYBE WE'LL HAVE MORE OF A LASTING EFFECT. THAT'S AWESOME. I AGREE WITH YOU THERE. THAT'S ALL. THANK YOU SO MUCH, SO I'M GONNA SWITCH FROM MOTHER STARS TO THE CITY OFFICIALS. THE HIGH POTENT DATES. AND WITH SWITCH THEM FOR MINUTES. SO, UM, MAYOR PARENT RECENTLY GOVERNING JUNKIN SPOKE ABOUT THE RISE OF VIOLENCE IN CITIES NOT JUST PETERSBURG. BUT RICHMOND ALSO AND ARE YOU ABLE TO SHARE WITH US? SOME OF THE THINGS THAT GOVERN THE YOUNG KIN WAS WILLING TO DO TO HELP MAKE PETERSBURG A SAFER PLACE TO LIVE. IT'S NOT JUST A CONCERN FOR US IS A CONCERN ALL OVER RIGHT NOW. YES UM, GOVERNOR DUNCAN WAS HERE IN THIS EXACT ROOM SPEND MORE ABOUT THREE WEEKS AGO NOW AND, UM HE HAD THE SECRETARY OF HOMELAND SECURITY AND PUBLIC SAFETY BOB MOSIER HERE AS WELL AND THEY WERE HERE, PLEDGING THEIR LONG TERM COMMITMENT TO THE CITY OF PETERSBURG, MEANING THAT THEY'RE GOING TO DO EVERYTHING. THAT THEY CAN DO TO MAKE SURE THAT WE HAVE THE RESOURCES THAT WE NEED , BECAUSE ONE OF THE BIG CHALLENGES WE HAVE HERE IN THE CITY IS THE LACK THEREOF RESOURCES SO THE STATE POLICE IS SHARING A LOT OF NEW TECHNOLOGY WITH US. ALONG WITH ROTATING AROUND DIFFERENT, UM AREAS OF THE STATE POLICE. THEY COME AND STAY IN RICHMOND AND PATROL IN PETERSBURG. SO I'M GOING TO PASS ON TO CHIEF TO GO DOWN THE LIST OF SOME OF THE OTHER THINGS THAT THEY PLAN ON PROVIDING US LIKE SHOT SPOTTER. TO REALIZE WHERE WERE GUNSHOTS IS GOING OFF THAT EXPENSIVE TECHNOLOGY THAT WE COULD KNOW THAT WE COULDN'T AFFORD, BUT I GET CHIEF TO ELABORATE ON THAT. THANK YOU, MAYOR, IN ADDITION TO THE SUPPORT THAT THE GOVERNMENT PLEDGED HERE IN MY HAND. WE HAVE A COMPREHENSIVE SUPPORT. UH REPORT A DOCUMENT OF ALL THE DIFFERENT RESOURCES THAT WILL BE AVAILABLE TO US SOME OF THE INITIATIVES THAT WILL BE PARTNERING WITH THE STATE POLICE ON UM, OF COURSE SOME I CAN'T SHARE BECAUSE OF COURSE, IT'S CONFIDENTIAL IN NATURE AS IT RELATES TO SOME OF THE CRIME TACTICS AND INITIATIVES THAT WILL BE DOING BUT WITH REGARDS TO THE SHOT SPOTTED TECHNOLOGY, THERE'S IS AN EXCELLENT NEW PROGRAM, A NEW SHOT DETECTION PROGRAM, AND I WILL ELABORATE JUST A LITTLE BIT ON THAT, BECAUSE AGAIN, IT'S SOMETHING THAT WILL BE PUTTING THROUGHOUT OUR CITY. BUT WHAT IT DOES, AND A LOT OF CITIZENS HAVE ASKED ABOUT. IT ALLOWS US TO BETTER AND QUICKER RESPONSE TO THOSE, UH, RANDOM GUNSHOTS AT YOUR HERE QUITE FREQUENTLY IN YOUR IN YOUR AREA. HOW THAT ASSISTS THE POLICE IS, IT GIVES US AN OPPORTUNITY TO RESPOND DIRECTLY TO THAT LOCATION. TYPICALLY RIGHT NOW, WHAT WE HAVE TO DO IS WE HAVE TO RESPOND AND WE HAVE TO CANVASS THE AREA LOOKING FOR SHELL CASINGS OR THOSE INDIVIDUALS THAT MAY HAVE WITNESSED OR HEARD THOSE GUNSHOTS AND THEN KIND OF START THE INVESTIGATION FROM THAT POINT. SO IT GIVES US A QUICKER RESPONSE. UH, MORE INSTANTANEOUS RESPONSE TO THE EXACT LOCATION AND IT WILL, UH, IT WILL HELP US AS WE FURTHER INVESTIGATION SO IN ADDITION TO THOSE RESOURCES AND SOME ADDITIONAL FUNDING THAT WANTS TO STATE PUTS OUT HIS BUDGET, WE LOOK TO RECEIVE SOME FUNDING FOR SOME TECHNOLOGY IMPROVEMENTS THAT WE HAVE IN OUR CITY AS IT RELATES TO PUBLIC SAFETY. AND IN ADDITION, WE ALSO HAVE SOME PARTNERSHIPS GOING OVER THERE BETTER AGENCIES AS WELL. THANK YOU SO MUCH, SO WE KNOW THAT IT'S NOT JUST THE CITY LEVEL OF POLICE OFFICERS THAT'S WORKING HERE, BUT OUR STATE AND OUR NATIONAL LEVEL. UM, ALSO THAT'S COMING IN AND TRYING TO HELP WITH THE PROBLEM. BUT THAT'S NOT GONNA SPREAD THEM THIN, TOO, BECAUSE, AS I SAID, IT'S NOT JUST PETERSBURG. TOM SO IT'S GONNA SPREAD THEM THIN ALSO , BUT I KNOW THAT WE'RE GONNA DO THE BEST WE CAN WITH WHAT WE HAVE. AND I HAVE SOME MORE QUESTIONS FOR YOU. BUT GO AHEAD. YOU WANT TO SAY SOMETHING? WELL, CANADA ELABORATED ONE WHICH YOU'RE SAYING, WE HAVE TO REMEMBER ALSO THAT JUST LIKE PETERSBURG THIS THIS PROBLEM IS OCCURRING THROUGHOUT OUR COUNTRY. CARING THROUGHOUT OUR REGION AND DEFINITELY A

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EASY QUESTION. THE MAJORITY OF THE INDIVIDUALS THAT ARE IN HERE AND AROUND THE TABLE OR PARTNERS WITH OUR SCHOOL SYSTEM, AND WE REALLY DO APPRECIATE IT, STARTING WITH OUR INTERIM CITY MANAGER, MR MILLER, AS HE SAID EARLIER. HE IS PARTNERING WITH US TO TAKE STUDENTS FROM BLANDFORD ACADEMY. AND GIVE THEM JOBS DURING THE SUMMER. I MEAN, AND THAT THAT THAT IS AWESOME.

ALSO WE HAVE PARTNERED WITH OTHER AGENCIES, OR, UM. JOBS OUTSIDE LIKE CENTRAL STATE HOSPITAL. WE HAVE STUDENTS THAT GO TO CENTRAL STATE HOSPITAL DURING THE DAY, AND THEY ARE ON THE JOB GETTING ON THE JOB TRAINING. DR MANSON, WHO OVERSEES THE PROGRAM ALSO SHARED THAT. CENTRAL STATE HAS PROMISED THE INDIVIDUALS WHO ARE GRADUATING THIS YEAR. THEY HAVE PROMISED THEM A FULL TIME JOB WITH STATE BENEFITS. IS AWESOME. ON JUNE 3RD AT PETERSBURG HIGH SCHOOL. WE HAVE SOME STUDENTS WHO WILL BE SIGNED AN AGREEMENT FOR FULL TIME JOBS BECAUSE RIGHT NOW THE OUT DOING INTERNSHIPS OUT WITH COMPANIES AND BUSINESSES HERE IN THE CITY OF PETERSBURG, ALSO, UM CHIEF CHRISTIAN HE CONTINUES TO WORK WITH OUR WITH OUR STUDENTS AND OUR STAFF, AND OUR SCHOOL SYSTEM PROVIDES A S R O OFFICER. AT PETERSBURG HIGH SCHOOL, AND VERNON JOHNS OFFICER ALSO HAS AN OPPORTUNITY TO GO OVER TO OUR ELEMENTARY SCHOOL ALSO TO VISIT OUR KIDS OVER THERE, CHIEF CHRISTIAN JUST SHARE WITH ME TODAY. WE'RE WORKING WITH MISS FIELDS. TO BRING TOGETHER SOME STUDENTS WHERE HE IS GOING TO COULD BRING THE STUDENTS TOGETHER AND THEY'RE GOING TO HAVE CONVERSATION. HE'S GOING TO HAVE CONVERSATION WITH THEM. IN A GROUP SETTING WITHOUT THE PRINCIPAL THERE. HE HAS X THAT MISS FIELDS BRING HIM THE STUDENTS THAT WE FEEL AS THOUGH THAT MAY NEED SOME TYPE OF DIFFERENT TALKING IF YOU UNDERSTAND WHAT I'M SAYING. NOT THE CUTE TALKING ABOUT, YOU KNOW. HEY YOU. YOU KNOW YOU'RE GOOD OR WHATEVER, BUT WE DO HAVE INDIVIDUALS IN OUR SCHOOL SYSTEM THAT ARE CAUSING A RECORDS IN OUR SCHOOL SYSTEM. ONE OF THE OTHER THINGS THAT WE HOLD KIDS ACCOUNTABLE FOR IS OUR CODE OF CONTACT AS A SCHOOL BOARD MEMBER. WE SET POLICIES AND WE HAVE TO PUT POLICIES IN PLACE TO MAKE SURE THAT OUR KIDS FOLLOW POLICIES SO THAT OUR SCHOOLS ARE SAFE. FOR THE OTHER STUDENTS THAT ARE IN THERE, SO WE HAVE TO HOLD THEM ACCOUNTABLE AND ONE OF THE THINGS THAT I MUST SAY WHICH I KNOW YOU'RE PROBABLY GOING TO BRING IT UP. PROBABLY LATER, BUT AS SHARE WITH ONE OF THE STUDENTS IN A CHAIR TODAY WITH WAYNE KOVAL, ONE OF THE ISSUES THAT WE'RE HAVING IN OUR SCHOOL SYSTEM, PARENTS AND COMMUNITY WE HAVE AN ISSUE WITH CELL PHONES. OUR YOUNG PEOPLE. ON THE CELL PHONE DURING THE DAY IN SCHOOL POSTING ON SOCIAL MEDIA. THEY'RE ALSO PLANNING FIGHTS WITHIN THE SCHOOL, AND WHEN THEY FIGHT, THEY RECORD THE FIGHTS AND POST THEM ON SOCIAL MEDIA. WE NEED PARENTS TO MAKE SURE THAT YOUR YOUR YOUR CHILD UNDERSTAND THAT THERE IS A POLICY IN PLACE AND WE'RE DOING ALL WE CAN TO WORK WITH THAT PARENTS AND OUR STUDENTS, BUT OUR STUDENTS MUST FOLLOW THE CODE OF CONDUCT. SO WE'RE ASKING PARENTS TO PLEASE WORK WITH US COMMUNITY MEMBERS.

WE NEED TO YOUR THE VILLAGE. YOU KNOW, SO IF YOU LEAVE, YOU KNOW IF YOU LIVING NEXT DOOR TO

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THE INTENT IS FOR PARENTS TO DO PICK UP AND YOU HAVE OPTIONS FOR NIGHT BASKETBALL, I'M SURE THAT MR ALLEN'S GONNA SPEAK A LITTLE BIT TO THE SUPPORT THERE. WE'RE ALSO GETTING GETTING FEEDBACK FROM OUR CHURCHES AND COMMUNITY AND WE'RE JUST TRYING TO MAKE SURE THAT THERE ARE A NUMBER OF OPPORTUNITIES AFFORDED US STUDENTS FOR IN RICHMOND. WE ALSO PARTNER WITH OUR NEIGHBORING UNIVERSITIES TO COMMUNICATE OUTLETS AND OPPORTUNITIES FOR YOU. SO IT IS OUR INTENTION TO KEEP OUR DOORS OPEN. AND TO PROVIDE AGAIN A CP EVEN FOR OUR STUDENTS TO CONTINUE TO PRODUCE. OKAY THANK YOU, MR ALLEN. I'M GOING TO COME TO YOU IN A MINUTE. UM BUT TAKING THE PRIVILEGE. A LOT OF TIMES A LOT OF THOSE PROGRAMS THAT HAPPENED. OFFER ELEMENTARY KIDS. SITS GREEN. SEVENTH GRADE. WHAT ABOUT MY BABIES AT THE HIGH SCHOOL? BECAUSE THEY NEED JUST AS MUCH OF SOMETHING TO DO IF NOT MORE. THEN THE ELEMENTARY KIDS, SO I JUST WANT US TO KEEP THAT IN MIND AS WE'RE DOING THE PLANNING. THAT IS NOT WE LOVE THE BABIES. OKAY BUT WE DEFINITELY NEED SOMETHING FOR OUR MIDDLE SCHOOL AND I HAD SCHOOL KIDS AND DON'T YOU ALL? THANK YOU ALL OF GETTING AWAY CAUSE I GOT ANOTHER QUESTION FOR BOTH OF YOU. OKAY SO WE DEFINITELY NEED SOMETHING. SO MR ALLEN, I AM COMING TO YOU POSED THE SAME QUESTION TO YOU. UM NOW MY OLDEST TWO SONS PLAYED T BALL AND BASEBALL. UM WHAT PETERSBURG PARKS AND REC FOR YEARS AND. I REMEMBER WHEN LEE PARK WAS FULL OF KIDS. FULL OF KIDS THERE WERE LIKE 12 TEAMS. YOU KNOW, AND WE'RE TALKING ABOUT FULL TEAMS NOT JUST KNOW FIVE OR SIX KIDS. AND OVER THE YEARS. WE HAVE SLOWLY SEEN THAT WE'RE NOT GOING TO WORK IN THE MORNING AND I LITERALLY WHEN I GO PAST LEE PARK, IT'S JUST LIKE MEMORIES. FROM THE CORNERS OF MY MIND. YOU KNOW, SO WITH THAT BEING SAID.

WHAT TYPE OF TYPES OF PROGRAMS ARE BEING OFFERED FOR OUR CHILDREN IN THE CITY THIS SUMMER? IT'S A GREAT QUESTION. THANK YOU. SO UM ONE OF THE THINGS THAT WE WANT TO DO IS WE WANT TO HAVE ACTIVITY FROM BASICALLY SUNUP TO SUNDOWN. SO WE'RE LOOKING AT FREE SUMMER CAMP, AND THEN YOU ALLUDED TO UM , ACTIVITY FOR THE HIGH SCHOOL OR SO SUMMER LEAGUE BASKETBALL IS GOING TO BE FOR THE AGES OF 8 TO 17. SO FROM THERE, WE JUST WANT TO BE ABLE TO HAVE AS MANY DIFFERENT THINGS THAT WE CAN. UM TO CONTINUE TO PROMOTE THAT. SO UM, WE'RE GONNA BE BUSY. WE'RE GOING TO CONTINUE TO BUILD THINGS BACK UP. WE'RE GONNA GET IT BACK TO WHERE IT NEEDS TO BE.

WE'RE NOT GOING TO GIVE OUR KIDS HAND ME DOWNS. THEY'RE GOING TO GET WHAT THEY NEED. THEY'RE GOING TO GET THE SERVICES THAT THEY NEED. THEY'RE GOING TO BE FADE. UM I THINK THAT'S IMPORTANT, SO THAT'S SOME OF THE OTHER THINGS THAT WE WOULD LIKE TO DO. AND I KNOW YOU MENTIONED

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WE'VE HAD THE OPPORTUNITY TO RECRUIT FROM WITHIN. WE'VE GOT A YOUNG LADY OFFICER MASON, WHO'S RIGHT HERE FROM THE CITY OF PETERSBURG. AND HER DESIRE WAS TO GIVE BACK TO HER CITY BORN AND RAISED RIGHT HERE ON WASHINGTON STREET. SHE'S. SHE HAS BEEN A PHENOMENAL OFFICER.

SHE WAS DEDICATED TO HER CITY, AND SHE COULD HAVE GONE ANYWHERE THROUGHOUT THE COMMON WHILE SHE WANTED TO GO, BUT SHE CHOSE TO COME RIGHT BACK HERE IN PETERSBURG AND WORK, SO WE'RE REALLY PROUD ABOUT THAT. BUT UPCOMING AND IN SUB COMING YEAR WE'RE WORKING WITH DR HAMLIN. I WILL BE PARTICIPATING IN WHAT THEY CONSIDERED CALLED THEIR, UH MONEY MAKING MONDAY'S. MONEY MAKING MONDAYS AT THE HIGH SCHOOL AND WE'LL HAVE A CONTINUOUS BOOTS SET UP HERE TO HIGH SCHOOL IN WHICH WE ARE TRYING TO ATTRACT. HIGH SCHOOL STUDENTS AS EARLY AS THE AGE OF 18. 18 YEARS OLD TO BECOME POLICE OFFICERS RIGHT HERE IN THAT CITY, AND THEY'LL LEARN MORE ABOUT IT AS WE GO ALONG, AND WE'LL HAVE OUR EXPLORER PROGRAM IN EXISTENCE IN THE SCHOOL SO KIDS CAN GET AN OPPORTUNITY TO LEARN AND UNDERSTAND WHAT IT TAKES TO BE A PRODUCTIVE CITIZEN WHAT IT TAKES TO BE IN LAW ENFORCEMENT. AND, YOU KNOW, WE REALIZED THAT SOME KIDS ARE AFRAID TO BE POLICE OFFICERS BECAUSE THE FEAR OF WHO THEY MAY BE ASSOCIATED WITH WE WANTED THEM TO UNDERSTAND THAT THAT'S HOW YOU GIVE BACK TO YOUR COMMUNITY, AND IT'S STILL THAT SENSE OF PRIDE BACK TAX STUDENTS. AND NOT ONLY THAT, THEY'RE AFRAID BECAUSE OF THE STIGMA. THEY'RE AFRAID THERE ARE SOME WHO WOULD LOVE TO GO INTO LAW ENFORCEMENT. BUT BECAUSE OF THE STIGMA OF IT, THEY DON'T WANT TO SAY ANYTHING. AND, UM SO I'M WONDERING. YOU SAID THE EXPLORER PROGRAM COMING BACK. THAT MAYBE IF WE PUSH THAT A LITTLE BIT MORE THAT WE CAN TAKE OFF SOME OF THAT STIGMA. WITHIN THE SCHOOL SYSTEM. I'M I'M HOPING SO, ANYWAY, NOW. ONE OF THE BIG REASONS WE ARE HERE IS GUN VIOLENCE. AND THIS IS A SCARY SCARY THING. UM. AND ONE OF THE QUESTIONS THAT I HAVE HAD , AND IT WAS SUBMITTED SEVERAL TIMES. UM. IT SEEMS AS THOUGH GUNS ARE EASILY ASSESSABLE AND GETTING INTO THE HANDS OF OUR YOUTH VERY QUICKLY. SO WHAT CAN WE DO ABOUT THE FLOW OF FIREARMS IN THE CITY, ENTERING OUR NEIGHBORHOODS AND OUR COMMUNITIES, AND IS THERE A WAY HOW CAN WE WHAT CAN WE DO TO STOP IT? SO, UM. YES, MA'AM. WE SO FAR THIS YEAR WE'VE TAKEN ABOUT 88 GUNS OFF THE STREET RIGHT HERE IN THE CITY OF PETERSBURG WITHOUT INCIDENT. 88 GUNS TAKEN OFF THE STREETS BEING USED IN ILLEGAL ACTIVITIES HERE IN THE CITY OF PETER'S WORLD. AND THAT THAT IS A HUGE PROBLEM . HUGE PROBLEM IN THAT CITY

[00:40:06]

IT'S A HUGE PROBLEM. WE HEAR ABOUT IT. WHEN WE TALK TO THE KIDS. I WENT OUT AND I TALKED TO ITALIC AND SOME OF THE GUYS AT THE BASKETBALL TEAM DURING THE STATE CHAMPIONSHIP TIME AND YOU HEAR THEM TALK ABOUT THE CONCERNS AND HOW THEY FEEL THREATENED SOME OF THE THINGS THAT'S GOING ACROSS SOCIAL MEDIA. AND ALL THE NEGATIVE THINGS THAT'S GOING ACROSS SOCIAL MEDIA. WELL, ADULTS. IF YOU LOOK AT SOME OF THE THINGS YOU POST ON SOCIAL MEDIA WHAT YOU THINK OUR KIDS ARE READING. WHAT DO YOU THINK OUR KIDS ARE REAL? SO WE EXPECT THEM TO DO BETTER. WE HAVE TO DO BETTER, TOO. RIGHT. SO, UM. NO. GET OFF SCRIPT A LITTLE BIT, BUT I THINK SOMETIMES WE NEED TO REALLY START LOOKING AT WHAT OUR KIDS ARE. WE TALKED ABOUT OUR KIDS, BUT OUR KIDS ARE GROWING UP TO MARK US. END UP TO MARKET THAT AND IT BRINGS TO MIND AND I TEACH AP GOVERNMENT AND SO WE WERE HAVING A DISCUSSION IN CLASS. AND UM, ONE OF THE STUDENTS SAID. THAT PART OF THE PROBLEM. WE TALK ABOUT OUR VILLAGE NOW PART OF THE PROBLEM , HE SAID TO US IN CLASS IS OUR PARENTS. YEAH, I'M I'M A PROUD MAMA. AND I'M A MAMA BEAR. AND HE SAID PART OF THE PROBLEM IS OUR PARENTS. I SAID WHAT YOU MEAN I PARENTS, YOUR PARENTS, AND HE SAID THAT THEIR PARENTS ARE NOT THEIR ROLE MODELS THAT HURT ME. THAT THAT HURT, HE SAID . I PARENTS ARE NOT OUR ROLE MODELS, HE SAID. OUR PARENTS ARE DOING BAD. HE SAID. THEY MAKE BAD DECISIONS THAT PARENTS ARE BAD DECISION MAKERS SO THAT FUELS US AND I BAD DECISION MAKING. THIS WAS FROM A HIGH SCHOOL SENIOR. YOU ARE THIS WAS FROM A HIGH SCHOOL SENIOR, SO I TOTALLY AGREE WITH YOU. CHIEF I TOTALLY AGREE WITH YOU BECAUSE IT HAS TO START WITH US AND IT CANNOT BE DO AS I SAY. NOT AS I DO. BECAUSE YOU ALL KNOW THE LITTLE ONES WATCH EVERY SINGLE THING THAT WE DO. SO I TOTALLY AGREE WITH YOU. THE ADULTS NEED SOME. WEAPONS FROM THE NEIGHBORS, TOO. BUT THANK YOU VERY MUCH, UM FOR THAT? YES, SIR. YES, SIR. HEY, MR NICHOLAS.

FOR YOUNG OR YOUNG ADULTS. AH MOST OF THE TIME. LET ME TALK ABOUT SOCIAL MEDIA. ON EVERY PICTURE YOU SEE. ALL ABOUT YOUNG ADULTS ARE POSTING 1000 GUNS. THAT'S THEIR ROLE MODEL. WHAT'S THE AVERAGE SALARY OF A MOMENT OF FATHER IN PETERSBURG? TWIN $1000. IN THE 12. MHM HIS MOM AND HIS DAD CANNOT PETE WITH YOUNGSTERS. THEY CAN'T BEAT WITH BABY. THEY CAN'T DO IT. THEN BABY GONNA GET THE GREATEST RAPPER AWARD IN THE WORLD. YOU KNOW, HE'S TALKING ABOUT KILLING A BLACK MAN. THEY GOT 8 12 OR SIX BLACK, BLACK BLACK BLACK KILLER KILLER KILLER. THEY GOT ALL FREDDY KRUEGER AND ALL THAT OTHER STUFF ON, UH, YOU KNOW, LIFE STORIES. CHEERLEADER MURDER GRANDMA MOTHER, THEY REMEMBERED TO WHITE PEOPLE. BUT ALL THE BLACK FOLKS WAS ON THE NEWS. SO WHEN A YOUNG BLACK MAN SEE HIMSELF WAS HE, ANOTHER YOUNG BLACK MAN? HE'D HAVE BEEN HERE ALL DAY LONG. AND IT'S ILL. I'M GONNA KILL HIM! KILL HIM! KILL HIM! KILL HIM! KILL HIM! WHAT YOU THINK HE'S GONNA DO WHEN HE SEES HIS BROTHER? HE'S THINKING ABOUT KILLING THEM. IS IN THIS

[00:45:01]

BEAT THEM. SUCKING YEAR FIRST PLACE AGAIN SECOND TIME. THEN I HAD THE PRIVILEGE. THANK YOU AGAIN, MR. PRISON. CONVICTED FELON DITCH WHERE HE IS IN PRISON. I WAS ONLY GROUND.

SOMEBODY LOOKED AT ME WITH A GUN AND I'VE BEEN SHOT. I STOOD OVER TOP OF MAN. AND WENT DOWN. AND WHEN I REALIZED I LOST MY MIND WENT TO THE POLICE STATION. LET ME IN HERE BECAUSE I SEE IN THE GUYS BEHIND ME WAS REALLY READY TO GO OFF THE CLIFF WITH ME. I SAID NO, I CAN'T DO THIS TO MY PEOPLE. I'M GONNA TURN MYSELF IN. BECAUSE THAT WAS NOT REALLY RAISED LIKE THIS. I'M NOT NO KILLER. BUT IF YOU GET PUSHED INTO POSITION, THEY SAY, EVEN IF THE WORST OF US GOT SOME BAD, EVEN THE BEST OF US GOT SOME GOOD. I WAS DID THE LAST SUPER TENDER HE WAS IN, HE CAME TO THE MY CLASSROOM OUT OF HIGH SCHOOL. AND HE'S THE OLDEST A NICE BARBERSHOP. HIT THE SUPERINTENDENT. AND I SAID HE SAID, YES. SO YOU'RE SAYING JOHNSON FIANCE? YEAH WE WERE REACHING THE CHAMPIONS AND STATE CHAMPION CAME OVER THERE. AND WE WON. I DON'T THINK SO. YOU WENT PETERSBURG NOW, MAN. YOU'VE PROBABLY RUINED FOR US. I'M TELLING YOU THE TRUTH, AND YOU CAN'T EVEN BELIEVE IT. THAT'S HOW BAD THIS STIGMA HEARS ABOUT PETERSBURG IN THE PLACES YOU CAN'T SEE. CREATED LIKE TWICE WENT TO SECOND YEAR AND WANT TO GO ALL THE WAY UP TO FRESHMEN.

DON'T YOU CARE THEM KIDS UP THERE, Y'ALL COME ON. ONE AGAIN. THESE KIDS, MAN, WE GOT SOME OF THE MOST FASCINATING BRILLIANT KIDS IN THE WORLD. DO YOU HAVE ANY IMPROPER RIGHT NOW? DID DOCTORS. THEY'RE LAWYERS. THEY EVERYWHERE. IT'S A IT'S A SHAME OF POOR FROG CAN'T PRAISE HIS OWN PAWN. THAT'S A GOOD ONE. THANK YOU. THANK YOU, MR NICHOLAS. THANK YOU. SO THAT'S GOING TO MITTEN, MA'AM. JOAN, RIGHT? JULIE. JUMP TONE. TOLD ME YES, BECAUSE I WAS GETTING READY TO GO TO MS LOVING, SO I WAS TRYING TO PASS THE MIC OVER TO HER. BECAUSE I HAD NOT HEARD OF THIS POSITION BEFORE. SO UM, PLEASE SHARE WITH US A LITTLE BIT ABOUT YOUR POSITION AS DIRECTOR OF COMMUNITY CORRECTIONS. OKAY AND HOW DOES THAT BENEFIT? THE CITY OF PETERSBURG. YOU'RE GONNA HAVE TO HOLD IT UP. LIKE THIS, OKAY? I HATE TO COME BEHIND WESLEY, WESLEY AND I GO WAY BACK. WE UM CAN YOU HEAR? OKAY I'M SORRY. COMMUNITY CORRECTIONS. THAT'S PROBATION AND PRETRIAL SERVICES IN THE COMMUNITY, SO INDIVIDUALS WHO HAVE BEEN PLACED ON SUPERVISION BY JUDICIAL OFFICIALS GENERALLY A MAGISTRATE OR JUDGE. AND THOSE INDIVIDUALS ARE DETERMINED TO BE, UH, ABLE TO BE SAFELY SUPERVISED IN THE COMMUNITY IN LIEU OF INCARCERATION ON PRE TRIAL. THOSE ARE INDIVIDUALS WHO HAVE NOT BEEN CONVICTED OF A CRIME THEY'VE BEEN CHARGED ALLEGED TO HAVE COMMITTED AN OFFENSE, OKAY? AND THOSE INDIVIDUALS ARE ON OUR SUPERVISION. WE ALSO DO INVESTIGATIONS FOR THE COURT TO DETERMINE WHETHER OR NOT WE MAKE A RECOMMENDATION TO THE COURT ABOUT WHETHER A PERSON SHOULD BE RELEASED TO OUR SUPERVISION OR DETAINED IN INCARCERATION, AND IN THIS CASE, IT'S AT RIVERSIDE REGIONAL JAIL. UM WE PROVIDE A COMMUNITY SUPERVISION FOR THOSE INDIVIDUALS WHO HAVE BEEN ADJUDICATED IN, UH, SIX DIFFERENT COURTS, SO I COVERED PETERSBURG AND DINWIDDIE. AND THOSE INDIVIDUALS ARE ALL 18 YEARS OF AGE AND OLDER. SO THAT'S ADULT POPULATION THAT WE KIND OF SEGUED INTO A FEW

[00:50:02]

BUT WHAT WE FIND IS THAT, UM, JUST WHAT WE WERE SPEAKING ABOUT A FEW MINUTES AGO. PEOPLE COME WITH BAGGAGE. PEOPLE COME WITH ISSUES. PEOPLE COME WITH CONCERNS AND SO WE HAVE TO DO A DUAL ROLE OF MONITORING THEM FOR THOSE ORDERS OF THE COURT, IN ADDITION TO WHAT WE SEE, SHOW UP WHERE WE HAVE TO MEET PEOPLE WHERE THEY ARE. OKAY, SO SOMETIMES PEOPLE ARE COMING TO US WITH SUBSTANCE ABUSE ISSUES, MENTAL HEALTH ISSUES, HOUSING ISSUES, TRANSPORTATION ISSUES, ISSUES OF TRAUMA. UM. SEX OFFENDER TREATMENT ISSUES, SO THERE'S A WIDE VARIETY OF ISSUES THAT HAVE TO BE ADDRESSED AS BEST WE CAN, WITH THE RESOURCES INTERVENTIONS THAT WE HAVE WITHIN THE COMMUNITY. HOPE THAT'S A LITTLE BIT ABOUT WHAT IT IS. THANK YOU. I WAS WONDERING ABOUT THAT. WHEN I SAW THE TITLE I WAS LIKE, OKAY, WHAT IS COMMUNITY CORRECTIONS? BUT I UNDERSTAND THAT. THANK YOU SO MUCH, AND ALL OF THOSE. GAMETES THAT YOU RAN THROUGH ALL THINGS THAT ARE NEEDED. DEFINITELY UM, TO SERVE OUR CITIZENS SO YOU TOUCHED ON MENTAL HEALTH. AND WE KNOW WITH THIS I THINK THIS MONTH IS MENTAL HEALTH AWARENESS MONTH? YES, AND WE KNOW AFTER COMING OUT OF THE PANDEMIC AND BEING IN YOUR HOUSE WITH YOUR FAMILY. FOR A WHOLE YEAR, AND YOU FOUND OUT I REALLY DON'T LIKE THAT PERSON. I'M JUST JOKING, THOUGH. UM EVERYBODY REALIZED. THAT MENTAL HEALTH PLAYS A PART. ON EVERY LEVEL. AND WITH EVERYBODY. SO I WANT TO TOUCH ON THAT BECAUSE MENTAL HEALTH IS A PRIORITY. UM SO THIS ONE IS FOR ANY OF OUR CITY OFFICIALS FIRST, UM, IS THE CITY PROVIDING MENTAL HEALTH SUPPORT TO OUR FIRST RESPONDERS. AND TO THE CITIZENS THAT ARE HAVE BEEN AFFECTED BY THE INCREASE IN THE VIOLENT CRIMES. BECAUSE SOME PEOPLE DON'T KNOW HOW TO DEAL WITH IT. SOME PEOPLE HOLD IT. THEY DON'T THEY DON'T KNOW HOW TO DEAL WITH THE CRIME. THEY DON'T KNOW HOW TO DEAL WITH THE DEATH. AND EVEN FOR FIRST RESPONDERS, ESPECIALLY IF IT IS SOMEBODY YOUNG. SO IS THAT BEING OFFERED AND THAT'S FOR ANY OF OUR CITY OFFICIALS. UH I'LL TOUCH ON IT QUICKLY FROM THE POLICE DEPARTMENTS. PERSPECTIVE.

UM FROM FIRST RESPONDERS RIGHT IF WE HAVE ANY OF OUR OFFICES THAT ARE INVOLVED IN ANY DRAMATIC INCIDENTS OR NEED ANY TYPE OF MENTAL HEALTH SUPPORT, WE HAVE AN INTERNAL PEER SUPPORT GROUP. THAT WILL HAVE CONVERSATIONS AND FOLLOW THE FOLLOW UP WITH THE OFFICERS INVOLVED IN ANY TYPE OF INCIDENT. ON A DAILY BASIS IF NECESSARY. WE ALSO CONTRACT WITH A WITH AN INDIVIDUAL, DR GREENBERG HERE WHO'S A PSYCHOLOGIST WHO ACTUALLY DEALS WITH ANY TYPE OF SITUATION WHEN OUR OFFICERS ARE IN NEED OF EXTENSIVE SERVICES. WE REFER THEM TO AND EXTERNAL SOURCE. FOR FURTHER SUPPORT. OKAY THANK YOU. SO I CAN UNDERSTAND FOR FIRST RESPONDERS. WHAT ABOUT US CITIZENS? ALRIGHT SO I'M GLAD TO TOUCH ON THAT BRAVELY. I AM THE SOCIAL WORKER AT THE PETERSBURG BUREAU OF POLICE. AND SO WHEN WE HAVE CITIZENS WHO HAVE BEEN IMPACTED BY VIOLENCE I RECEIVE REFERRALS FOR THOSE INDIVIDUALS AND THEN I'M ABLE TO CONNECT THEM WITH AVAILABLE RESOURCES IN OUR COMMUNITY. WE HAVE ACCESS TO A HOMICIDE SURVIVORS GROUP THAT IS OPERATING IN HOPEWELL. AND WE HOPE OPERATING IN PETERSBURG SOON, AND THAT'S BEEN SOMETHING THAT I'VE BEEN ABLE TO REFER SOME FOLKS TOO. AND WE ARE HOPING THAT LATER THIS YEAR WILL ALSO HAVE SOME COMMUNITY SUPPORT GROUPS AND THESE GROUPS WILL BE FOREVER RIETI OF DIFFERENT THINGS SOME WILL BE FOR, UH MAYBE PARENTS WHO HAVE JUSTICE INVOLVED YOUTH, UH, RETURNING CITIZENS. THOSE WHO HAVE BEEN IMPACTED BY COMMUNITY VIOLENCE, DOMESTIC VIOLENCE. UM SINGLE PARENTS. THOSE GRANDPARENTS WHO ARE RAISING THEIR GRANDCHILDREN WHICH I ENCOUNTER ON A WEEKLY BASIS. AND TRY TO FIND A WAY THAT WE CAN BUILD COMMUNITY SUPPORTS FOR THOSE INDIVIDUALS SO THAT THEY HAVE WHAT THEY NEED AND THAT THEY'RE ALSO SURROUNDED BY OTHERS WHO ARE EXPERIENCING THE SAME THING. BECAUSE SOMETIMES WHAT WE REALLY NEED IS WE NEED TO HEAR THAT WE'RE NOT ALONE IN WHAT WE'RE NAVIGATING, SO THAT'S SOMETHING THAT WILL BE WORKING TOWARDS OKAY. THANK YOU.

AND YOU SAID YOU WANTED TO MAKE A COMMENT. I DON'T MY NAME. GENERAL HOBBS, PRESIDENT OF HELPING YOU APPROXIMATELY EXCEL IN PETERSBURG, VIRGINIA. I WAS, UM WANT TO SEE? IS THERE ANY WAY THAT YOU CAN GET INVOLVED WITH THE COMMUNITY ACTIVIST PEOPLE THAT'S REALLY TOUCHING THE YOUTH

[00:55:05]

WHAT MAKES YOU WANT TO PLAY IT? THAT'S A GOOD PLAN. I SEEN THAT WORK. AND YOU'VE GOT LEADERS HERE THAT'S WILLING TO HELP. ALL THESE PASSES HERE, THERE'S SOMEBODY'S DAUGHTER. OUT. CUT THEM OUT OF HELL! ALIBABA'S WE CUT THEM BOYS HERE. I MIGHT BE CUTTING THE SHOOTER. YOU GOT ANOTHER ONE THAT BROTHER AND WE CAME TOGETHER TO BARBERS DID THE SAME THING AND WE GOT THESE GUYS TOGETHER AND THEY SQUASHED THE BEEF. IT'S GONNA TAKE ALL OF US TO DO THIS TOGETHER. THANK YOU.

IT'S GOING TO TAKE THAT VILLAGE. IT'S GOING TO TAKE THAT VILLAGE IN EVERY ASPECT OF IT. SO ONCE AGAIN THE MENTAL HEALTH ASPECT. AFFECTS THOSE IN OUR SCHOOL SYSTEM ALSO BECAUSE WHAT HAPPENS IN THE STREETS ALWAYS SPILLS OVER INTO OUR SCHOOLS? SO MISS TORY WHITE IT'S WHITE. HOW CAN WE IMPLEMENT. A TRAUMA INFORMED PROCESS TO UNDERSTAND THE IMPACT. OF GUN VIOLENCE IN THE COMMUNITY. THE TWO STARTED IN OUR SCHOOLS. SORRY ABOUT THAT. SO I THINK THIS IS DEFINITELY A

[01:00:16]

AND IT AFFECTS THEM EMOTIONALLY AND PHYSICALLY. AND SO I JUST WANTED TO SAY THAT THERE IS NO COINCIDENCE THAT PETERSBURG HAS SOME OF THE POOREST HEALTH RATES IN THE STATE. OKAY BECAUSE WE CARRY CHRONIC STRESS IN OUR IN OUR BODIES PRETTY MUCH. AND SO IT AFFECTS US IN SO MANY DIFFERENT WAYS. SO WHAT WE DID IN THE SCHOOL EVEN PRIOR TO COVID WAS WE INVESTED IN A SOCIAL, EMOTIONAL LEARNING CURRICULUM FOR OUR STUDENTS. WHERE WE TEACH THEMSELVES MANAGEMENT SELF AWARENESS SO THEY CAN TALK ABOUT THEIR FEELINGS AND THEIR EMOTIONS. WE ALSO TEACH THEM ABOUT RELATIONSHIPS, SOCIAL AWARENESS. AND RESPONSIBLE DECISION MAKING, WHICH IS KEY. TO THEM BEING IN OUR SCHOOLS AND BEING COMMUNITY LEADERS. AND WE WERE TALKING ABOUT MEDIATION. AND I WANT TO SAY WE WANT TO BE ABLE TO TEACH OUR STUDENTS TO BE PEER MEDIATORS BECAUSE THEY AREN'T ALWAYS GONNA TELL US ADULTS. WHAT'S GOING ON IN THE STREETS, OKAY? AND SO WE WANT TO TEACH SOME OF OUR STUDENTS TO BECOME LEADERS IN THE BUILDING AND BE PEER MEDIATORS. SO WHEN THESE THINGS GO ON, THEY CAN SAY HEY, MAN, LOOK, WE NEED TO SQUASH THIS RIGHT NOW. AND SO THERE ARE A LOT OF THINGS THAT WE'RE DOING. WE TEAR OUR SUPPORT. UM RIGHT NOW, THE SCHOOL SYSTEM HAS A TEAM OF LICENSED MENTAL HEALTH PROFESSIONALS. UM AND I LEAVE THAT TEAM SO WE HAVE LICENSED MENTAL HEALTH PROFESSIONALS THAT ACTUALLY WORK WITH OUR STUDENTS THAT WORK WITH THEM ON THEIR FEELINGS AND THEIR EMOTIONS AND , YOU KNOW, RESPONSIBLE DECISION MAKING AND THEIR MENTAL HEALTH NEEDS BECAUSE WE KNOW THAT THEY HAVE MENTAL HEALTH NEEDS. AS WELL. SO WE DO ALL THESE THINGS IN THE SCHOOL. WE TEAR OUR SUPPORT SO THAT WE CAN SUPPORT OUR STUDENTS BECAUSE WE KNOW THAT IN THEIR PARENTS. ABSOLUTELY ANY APPEARANCE TO ASK DOES THAT FEED INTO AT HOME BECAUSE IT MAY NOT BE THE CHILD THAT'S DEALING THE CHILD OF THE REFLECTION OF THE PARENT THE PARENT IS DEALING IN THE CHILD DOESN'T KNOW HOW TO DEAL WITH THE PARENTS. ABSOLUTELY ABSOLUTELY. SO WE HOPE WITH ALL THAT WE ALSO LINK OUR FAMILIES TO COMMUNITY RESOURCES. BUT I WANT TO SAY SOMETHING. SO OUR STUDENTS YOU KNOW IN OUR SCHOOLS THEY DON'T BECAUSE OF THE CHRONIC STRESS THAT THEY UNDER THEY DON'T COME TO SCHOOLS WITH THEIR LEARNING BRAINS. OKAY? THEY COME TO SCHOOL AND SURVIVAL MODE MOST OF THE TIME, OKAY? AND SO WE HAVE TO LEARN HOW TO REACH THEM WHERE THEY ARE. AND SO THAT'S WHAT WE'RE STARTING TO DO IN PETERSBURG CITY PUBLIC SCHOOLS WITH OUR TEAM ARE WE CALL THEM SCHOOL BASEMENT OR HEALTH TEAMS, AND THAT'S WHERE YOU SAW WE WERE DOING A BIG MENTAL HEALTH AWARENESS MONTH BECAUSE WE WANT TO TEACH THE STUDENTS. IT'S OKAY NOT TO BE OKAY. OKAY BUT YOU NEED TO TALK TO SOMEONE WITH THESE ISSUES START HAPPENING AND OCCURRING SO WE COULD PROVIDE YOU WITH SUPPORT. WE CAN LINK YOUR FAMILY. WE CAN PULL YOU TO THE SIDE. IN MY DIRECTOR IS HERE, MISS BAIL AND SHE'LL TELL YOU MY DOOR WHEN I'M IN A MEETING ALL DAY LONG. THEY'RE KNOCKING BECAUSE THEY WANT ATTENTION. THEY WANT TO COME IN AND SIT DOWN. IT'S HOT. THEY WANT TO TALK ABOUT WHAT HAPPENED IN THE COMMUNITY. THEY WANT TO TALK ABOUT WHAT'S GOING ON AT HOME, SO I HAVE MY DOOR'S ALWAYS OPEN TO THEM. AND THEY KNOW THAT THEY HAVE ADULTS IN THE BUILDINGS THAT SUPPORT THEM. ALWAYS. THANK YOU SO MUCH NOW TO PIGGYBACK ON THAT WITH MISS LORD EVEN WITH EVERYTHING THAT'S GOING ON. UM DO YOU THINK SOMETHING AS SIMPLE AS A TELEPHONE HOTLINE? FOR OUR STUDENTS FOR OUR CHILDREN COULD HELP THE KIDS WHEN THEY ENCOUNTER CERTAIN CRISIS. UM, THAT HAPPENS LIKE MENTAL HEALTH EMERGENCIES. UM DO YOU THINK IF WE HAVE DO WE HAVE ONE IF WE DO WHAT'S THE NUMBER IF WE DON'T HAVE ONE? IS THAT SOMETHING THAT CAN BE PUT INTO PLAY? SO WE HAVE ACCESS TO SOMETHING CALLED CHILDREN'S RESPONSE AND STABILIZATION TEAM. IT'S CALLED CREST, AND THAT'S NOT SOMETHING THAT A CHILD NECESSARILY WOULD USE. BUT APPARENT COULD USE IT AND THE GOAL OF THAT WOULD BE TO CALL THAT NUMBER IF YOUR CHILD IS HAVING A CRISIS. UH THAN

[01:05:01]

OKAY? OKAY SO YOU WANT TO MAKE SURE YOU TOUCH BASE WITH MISS LAURA AFTER THE PROGRAM AND TOUCH BASE WITH MS RIGHT AFTER THE PROGRAM SO THAT WE CAN ADD YOU TO OUR LIST OF PEOPLE WE CAN CALL ON. OKAY? OH, YOU GOT IT. OKAY, GOOD. I JUST WANTED TO MAKE A POINT. GOOD EVENING, EVERYBODY, SO I THINK THE WARM LINES ARE GREAT. BUT LET'S NOT DEVIATE FROM THE IMPORTANCE OF REAL RELATIONSHIPS. WE HAVE HAD SEVERAL PEOPLE MENTIONED THE FACT THAT THEY ACTUALLY WENT ON THE STREET. AND BUILD RELATIONSHIPS WITH PEOPLE. THAT IS GOING TO MAKE THE DIFFERENCE.

I'M FROM HERE TO GRADUATED FROM PETERSBURG HIGH CLASS OF 98. NO EVERY NEIGHBORHOOD KNOW MANY OF THE PARENTS THAT ARE INVOLVED IN SOME OF THESE THINGS. AND UNTIL THE MOM'S BROTHERS COUSINS OR SOMEBODY THAT'S COOL WITH THESE PEOPLE. WILL GO OUT AND ACTUALLY HAVE REAL CONVERSATION. THINGS WON'T CHANGE. WE HAVE A LOT OF MEETINGS. JUST SAY THIS. I LOVE PETERSBURG. BUT WE ARE PLAGUED BY HAVING A WHOLE LOT OF MEETINGS BY PEOPLE WHO STAND FROM A DISTANCE. WE NEED MORE SOLDIERS ON THE STREET. THAT'S WILLING TO HAVE THE COURAGE TO SAY I LOVE YOU. AND I KNOW YOU GOT A NINE IN YOUR BACK POCKET. I KNOW YOU GOT A 40. I KNOW YOU GOT AN A R 15. BUT I LOVE YOU ENOUGH THAT I'M GONNA COME OUT HERE AND TELL YOU HOW MUCH I LOVE YOU. AND I WANT YOU TO LIVE, NOT DIE. I JUST WANT TO SHARE IT. THANK YOU, SIR. POINT POINT. POINT WELL TAKEN CHECK AND CHECKMATE. SO WITH THAT, LET ME GO BACK TO LAW ENFORCEMENT FOR A MINUTE. ONE OF THE SANDS ON THE STREET IS SNITCHES GET STITCHES. BUT I WANT TO AGREE WITH DL. HUGHLEY, WHO SAYS SNITCHES GET STITCHES, BUT THEY HOME FOR CHRISTMAS. SO WITH THAT BEING SAID, WE KNOW THAT USUALLY THERE'S SOMEBODY THAT KNOWS WHAT'S GETTING READY TO HAPPEN. OR THERE'S SOMEBODY THAT SAW WHAT WENT ON. BUT NOBODY COMES FORWARD. AND SAYS ANYTHING. SO AND I THINK I'M GOING. I'M GOING

[01:10:10]

UM WHY IS IT THAT OTHERS WILL NOT SPEAK UP BEFORE AFTER THE VIOLENCE TAKES PLACE. HOW CAN WY TRUST US. AND I'M SAYING US LIKE I'M A POLICE OFFICER, SO THAT THEY TRUST US BECAUSE EVEN WITH ME IF IT IF IT WERE TO HAPPEN IN ONE OF MY STUDENTS CAME TO ME AND SAID SOMETHING I GOT TO SAY SOMETHING SO THAT THEY TRUST US. TO COME AND SAY SOMETHING, AND WE'RE NOT NOT JUST THE YOUNG PEOPLE, BUT EVEN THE ANTI THAT'S SITTING ON THE PORCH THAT SAW IT HAPPEN. YOU KNOW WHO MAY NOT SAY ANYTHING, SOMEBODY SO WHAT DO WE DO? HOW DO WE START BUILDING THOSE RELATIONSHIPS SO THAT THEY DO COME AND SAY SOMETHING. WELL I THINK LIKE PASTOR, MCLAUGHLIN SAID. IT'S JUST IT'S ALL OF US.

YOU KNOW, WE GOTTA BUILD THAT RELATIONSHIP, NOT WITH JUST POLICE, BUT WE HAD TO. BUILD THOSE RELATIONSHIPS IN THEIR HOMES. WE HAVE TO BUILD THOSE RELATIONSHIPS IN OUR COMMUNITIES THAT CAN BUILD THOSE RELATIONSHIPS AND OUR CHURCHES AND YOU ALWAYS HEAR ME SAY THIS POLICE CAN'T BE EVERYWHERE. AND SO YOU KNOW, WE NEVER GET INVITED TO THE GUNFIGHTS. WE HAVE TO RELY ON THE CITIZENS THAT ARE OUT HERE, LISTENING. PARENTS TO LISTENING PARENTS THAT SHOULD BE LISTENING. INSTEAD OF PAYING ATTENTION TO THE WHEREABOUTS OF THEIR CHILDREN. UM AND UNDERSTAND THAT, YOU KNOW, IT'S GONNA TAKE EVERYBODY HE CAN'T YOU KNOW A LOT OF TIMES WE HOPE THAT OUR KIDS ARE GOING TO TRUST THE POLICE ENOUGH THAT THEY WANT TO COME FORWARD AND GIVE INFORMATION. BUT THE REAL REALITY IS IF THEY'RE AFRAID.

YOU KNOW WHAT WE'RE SEEING NOW IS PEOPLE THAT ARE AFRAID OF RETALIATION. WE'RE SEEING FROM A PUBLIC SAFETY STANDPOINT THAT, UH PEOPLE ARE RIDING AROUND LOOKING FOR THE ENEMY TO JUST SHOOT. YES, SOMEBODY KNOWS ABOUT IT. SOMEBODY KNOWS IN ADVANCE THAT IT'S ABOUT TO HAPPEN. IN SOME CASES, THOSE PEOPLE ARE INVOLVED, AND THAT'S WHY THEY WON'T COME FORWARD AND GIVE THAT INFORMATION BECAUSE THEY'RE PARTICIPATING IN THAT CRIMINAL ACT. SO WE HAVE TO BE REALLY AWARE OF WHAT'S HAPPENING IN OUR CITY. WE HAVE TO REALLY PAY ATTENTION TO IT, THAT THE THINGS THAT ARE HAPPENING THAT WE SEE THAT'S OUT OF THE ORDINARY. WE KNOW HOW WE WANT TO LIVE. IT CAN'T BECOME THE NORM THAT WE SEE PEOPLE WALKING AROUND OUR STREETS WITH GUNS. I'M NOT SAYING THAT'S ILLEGAL PEOPLE HAVE THE RIGHT TO BEAR ARMS. BUT WHEN YOU SEE PEOPLE THAT ARE HAVING ALTERCATIONS, VERBAL ALTERCATIONS WITH A GUN STRAPPED ON THEIR SIDE, IT'S TIME TO CALL THE POLICE. THE NEXT ACT IS GOING TO BE A SHOOTOUT. SO WE GET THOSE CALLS AFTER THE FACT.

BECAUSE MOST PEOPLE ARE LOOKING OUT THE WINDOWS AND WATCHING INSTEAD OF CALLING SO WE HAVE TO, YOU KNOW, BE AWARE OF WHAT'S HAPPENING. WE HAVE TO COMMUNICATE WITH EACH OTHER. UM AND YOU KNOW AGAIN, IT'S GONNA TAKE A WHILE. WE REALIZED IN IN TODAY'S CLIMATE. AND THE THINGS THAT WE'VE SEEN ACROSS THE COUNTRY AS IT RELATES TO POLICE IS DIFFICULT FOR PEOPLE, PARTICULARLY YOUNG ADULTS TO A YOUNG PEOPLE PERIOD. TO REALLY TRUST THE POLICE. AND WE UNDERSTAND THAT, BUT WE NEED EVERYBODY. WE NEED EVERYBODY TO PARTICIPATE IN BUILDING THAT TRUST. THANK YOU. THANK YOU SO MUCH NOW. WE TALKED ABOUT THE. PARKS AND LEISURE IN THE AFTER THE PROGRAMS FOR THE SUMMER, UM , WHEN IT COMES TO AFTER SCHOOL PROGRAMS, I BELIEVE IN SPORTS. I LOVE SPORTS. I'M A I DON'T LIKE LOSING. SO I'M VERY MY HUSBAND TELLS ME I'M VERY COMPETITIVE. I AM I LOVE SPORTS, AND I THINK THAT SPORTS IS ONE WAY. THAT SHOWS YOUR CHARACTER BECAUSE IT'S NOT JUST ABOUT HOW YOU WIN THE GAME. IT'S ALSO ABOUT HOW YOU LOSE. UM, TO LOSE WITH CHARACTER. AND. I THINK THAT BRINGING SOME OF THE SPORTS BACK TO PETERSBURG. WILL HELP WITH THE CAMARADERIE. UM THAT WE CAN PLAY ON THE COURT. WE CAN PLAY ON THE COURT. WE CAN PLAY ON THE FIELD. AND AFTER THE GAME. WE CAN STILL WALK AWAY AND TALK TO EACH OTHER. OKAY THAT'S THAT'S A BIG THING. SO MR MILLER, THE BOYS AND GIRLS CLUB AND WE TALKED ABOUT PARTS AND WRECK AND WHAT THEY'RE GOING TO DO, UM SO BEFORE AND AFTER SCHOOL PROGRAMS BECAUSE THAT'S WHEN THE KIDS SAY

[01:15:05]

UM BUT WHAT WE'RE LOOKING TO DO IS TO PUT OUR SHOW ON THE ROAD IN A SENSE AND HAVE A LEADERSHIP PROGRAM AND JUST PROVIDE ANOTHER OPTIONAL OPPORTUNITY. THERE IS NOT A MAGIC PILL. THERE'S NO ONE THING THAT IS GOING TO SHIP THIS THING. IT'S GOING TO TAKE ALL OF US. MR NICHOLAS A. EVERYTHING I JUST SAID IS DEFINITELY ON POINT . UM BUT WE HAVE TO COME TOGETHER AND IDENTIFY WHAT OUR STRENGTHS ARE IN ORDER TO MOVE THAT FORWARD AS WELL. ANOTHER THING THAT I'D ALSO ADD, AND I KNOW I'M GOING OFF QUESTION HERE . BUT SOCIAL MEDIA LIKE I'M AN OLDER DUDE GOT GRAY HAIR DON'T LIKE SOCIAL MEDIA BARELY KNOW HOW TO OPERATE FACEBOOK. ALRIGHT, SO INSTAGRAM DON'T EVEN UNDERSTAND. BUT THE THING ABOUT IT IS THIS AND OUR KIDS ARE ENGAGED IN AND OUR YOUNG ADULTS ENGAGED IN IT FOR ONE REASON, THE WAY THAT I LOOK AT IT, THERE'S A THERMAL AT THE CORNER OF FACEBOOK. AND YOU'VE GOT A HEART. YOU GOT ALL THOSE OTHER THINGS THEY'RE SEEKING ATTENTION. ALRIGHT THEY WANT THAT, LIKE THEY WANT THAT IMMEDIATE GRATIFICATION AND IMMEDIATE RESPONSE. A LOT OF BEEF HAPPENS WHEN THEY DON'T GET LIKES. ALL RIGHT, SO YOU WANT TO BE LIKE YOU WANT THE ATTENTION? AND I THINK ALL OF THE ADULTS IN THE ROOM FROM THE CITY, THE SCHOOL SYSTEM, ETCETERA, WE NEED TO STAND UP. OUR KIDS THAT ARE DOING WELL. WE NEED TO CELEBRATE EACH AND EVERY KID THAT HAD A GOOD DAY THAT'S ON ON A ROLL ON A BASKETBALL TEAM, BECAUSE WHAT'S NOW HAPPENING IS THAT IF WE'RE NOT DOING THAT, AND WE'RE JUST DOING THE OBS, AND WHEN THINGS ARE BAD, AND WE'RE SAD, DOOM AND GLOOM, RIGHT IT IMPACTS THE SPIRIT AND IT HAS TRAUMA ISSUES. AND NOW I KIDS HAVE A ROADBLOCK. THEY CAN'T EVEN DREAM NOW. ALL RIGHT. I DON'T CARES.

NEED TO SEE TALLY THEY NEED TO WANT TO BE LIKE HIM. BUT HE ALSO HAS A RESPONSIBILITY TO UNDERSTAND. HE'S A ROLE MODEL. AH! NOW HIS FATHER WAS A HECK OF A BASKETBALL PLAYER, AND I'M SURE THAT'S WHERE YOU GOT THAT FROM RIGHT. A YOUNG KID AND NOT HIS SON, BUT A YOUNG KID NEEDS TO SEE HIM RIGHT NOW, AND I WANT TO BE LIKE THAT. IF HE DOESN'T PLAY A BALL A MINUTE IN NBA, BUT IF HE COMES BACK INTO THE COMMUNITY IS SUCCESSFUL BUSINESS OWNER BUSINESSMAN IS ABLE TO GIVE BACK TO THE COMMUNITY. THAT'S WHAT WE NEED TO DO. AND THAT'S WHAT WE'VE BEEN ROBBING OUR KIDS ARE BOB AND OUR KIDS OFF. IS THE ABILITY TO DREAM AND ALSO TO BE ROLE MODELS FOR BOYS AND GIRLS CLUB AGAIN. THIS IS NOT ME SAYING THAT WE HAVE ALL OF THE ANSWERS. WE WANT TO BE PART OF THE SOLUTION. AND WE WANT TO PLAY A ROLE IN IT. WE'RE HAVING A CONVERSATION WITH A SMALL GROUP OF, UM STAKEHOLDERS NOW AND TRYING TO FIGURE OUT WHAT'S OUR ROLE HERE. AND WHAT CAN WE DO IN THE COMMUNITY TO PUSH IT FORWARD? AND AGAIN, THE BIG PIECE ABOUT IT IS YOU CAN HAVE A LOT OF ACTIVITIES AND THE OTHER LEVELS TO IT. BUT WE GOT TO GO DEEPER. OUR KIDS GOT TO BE ABLE TO DREAM AND WE HAVE TO PREPARE THEM FOR THE REAL WORLD. THANK YOU SO MUCH, AND I AGREE WITH YOU THERE, AND I'LL JUST I'LL BRING YOU THIS ONE. OKAY? YES, MA'AM. MY QUESTION IS.

EVERY CHILD'S NOT INTO SPORTS. WHAT ABOUT THE KIDS? IT'S NOT INSERT SPORTS. I HAVE TWO OTHER KIDS, THEY'RE NOT INTO SPORTS. THEY LIKE TO DANCE. SING AND RAP AND SUPER SMART, BUT THEY GET CALLED NAMES. THEY GET JOKED ON THEY GET BULLIED FOR THAT. SO WHAT ABOUT THOSE KIDS ALSO AND I AGREE WITH YOU THERE AND I APOLOGIZE FOR SAYING SPORTS. I THAT'S ONE OF OUR BIGGER ONES.

THAT'S ONE OF OUR BIGGER ONES THAT THEY COME OUT TO. AND I'LL GIVE YOU A PRIME EXAMPLE. I

[01:20:03]

AND I'M SORRY, AND I DON'T MEAN TO MEAN TO OFFEND BUT ALWAYS HAVE TO PREPARE MY KIDS WHEN THEY GO TO THEIR FIRST TOURNAMENT. Y'ALL KNOW WHAT I GOT TO SAY TO HIM? OKAY WHEN YOU WALK INTO THE SCHOOL, YOU'RE NOT GONNA SEE ANYBODY THAT LOOKS LIKE YOU. OKAY WHEN YOU WALK IN, DON'T LET IT SCARE YOU. YOU'RE GONNA BE OKAY. WE HAVE DO I HAVE TO WEAR A SHIRT AND TIE? YES, YOU HAVE TO WEAR A SHIRT AND TIE. NO, YOU CANNOT WEAR JEANS. NO, YOU CANNOT WEAR SNEAKERS.

IT'S A WHOLE DIFFERENT WORLD. FOR THEM. IT'S A WHOLE AND ONCE THEY GET ONE TASTE OF IT OH, MY GOODNESS. MISS SMITH. I'M COMING BACK NEXT YEAR. MISS SMITH. I'M COMING BACK BECAUSE YOU'RE READING POETRY. BECAUSE YOU'RE YOU'RE NOT AFRAID TO SPEAK IN FRONT OF ANYBODY ANYMORE. AND YOU KNOW, I LOVE YOU TALLY AND NOT WISHING IT ON YOU. BUT YOU CAN HURT YOURSELF IN BASKETBALL.

IT MAY NOT BE ABLE TO PLAY. BUT SPEAKING YOU WILL DO FOR THE REST OF YOUR LIFE. SO I AGREE WITH YOU WITH THE ARTS. I AGREE WITH YOU WITH ALL THAT. THAT'S ONE OF THE THINGS I THINK HAS DECLINED. IS OUR STUDENTS BEING INVOLVED? IN ANYTHING, EVERYTHING NOT KNOW ORGANIZATIONS THERE USED TO BE GAS AND OIL. RIGHT UM, WE WERE LOOKING. WE WERE COMPARING YEARBOOKS. WE WILL COMPARING YEARBOOKS HOW MANY CLUBS AND ORGANIZATIONS WERE OFFERED IN 2006, COMPARED TO HOW MANY CLUBS AND ORGANIZATIONS OFFERED GIVING OUR CHILDREN THE OPPORTUNITY. TO BE OUT THERE. SO YES, THAT THAT IS DIFFERENT. SO COUNCILWOMAN, OKAY, SO LET ME LET ME LET ME GO BACK. THE QUESTIONS WERE PUT IN BECAUSE WE DON'T WANT TO BE HERE ALL NIGHT. AND I'M NOT REALLY SUPPOSED TO BE LATIN AUDIENCE SPEAK. OKAY BECAUSE THE QUESTIONS WERE SUBMITTED TO ME AND, UH, HAD THE FLESH THROUGH THEM SO THAT I COULD GET THEM. SO COUNCILWOMAN WILSON SMITH? YES. MR PRITCHARD, DON'T KILL ME. HE'S NOT GONNA ASK ME BACK. GO AHEAD. OKAY UM SO I APOLOGIZE TO MR PRITCHARD AND TO MAYOR PARENT I'M BACK HERE. PALMS OF MY HANDS ARE STRAIGHTENED. I'M JUST DYING TO SAY SOMETHING. UM BECAUSE NUMBER ONE, I'M A MOTHER , AND EVERY TIME SOMETHING HAPPENS TO A CHILD EVERY MOTHER WHO IS A MOTHER. FEELS IT. WE AGREE FOR THAT MOTHER. WE GRIEVE FOR THAT FAMILY. AND EVERY TIME A YOUNG ONE OF US GOES TO JAIL. WE GRIEVE EVEN MORE BECAUSE WE'RE MOTHERS. THE PEOPLE WHO ARE BEING MURDERED OR BEING INCARCERATED ARE PREDOMINANTLY AFRICAN AMERICANS AND FROM MY DAYS. I'M 69 YEARS OLD. SO IN MY DAYS WITH SOMETHING LIKE THAT HAPPENED, IT WAS ALL OF US. WE WERE THE VILLAGE. IT AFFECTED ALL OF US. WE HAVE HEARD A LOT OF RHETORIC TONIGHT ABOUT WHAT WE'RE GOING TO DO. I THINK, AND IT'S ONLY MY OPINION THAT WE NEED TO ADDRESS AND LOOK AT NOT JUST WHAT WE'RE GOING TO DO. BUT WHAT HAS CAUSED ALL OF THIS. NOW OUR CHILDREN WE CALL THEM CHILDREN BECAUSE OF THEIR AGE, BUT I SOCIETY AND ADULTS HAVE PUT THEM IN AN ADULT POSITION. THEY ARE CHILDREN, BUT THEY HAVE TO DEFEND THEMSELVES AND AN ADULT WORLD. IF YOU LOOK AT THE STATISTICS, PETERSBURG HAS ONE OF THE HIGHEST EVICTION RATES.

YOU IMAGINE A CHILD GETTING OFF THE SCHOOL BUS 1/10 GRADER, AND WHEN HE GETS OFF THAT BUS ALL OF HIS BELONGINGS OUT ON THE STREET. PUT YOURSELF IN HIS POSITION. DOES HE TURN AROUND AND LOOK AT HIS FRIENDS ON THE BUS AND GO? OH GOD. NOW THEY KNOW. DOES HE LOOK AT HIS BELONGINGS AND BREAK DOWN CRYING AND THEN FEAR THEY'RE GONNA SEE IT. WHAT DOES HE DO? WHAT KIND OF POSITION DOES THAT PUT HIM IN ? HE HAS TO LIVE WITH THAT TRAUMA. HE HAS TO LIVE WITH THAT HURT WITH THAT PAIN. AND WITH US SOCIETY WHO HAS FAILED HIM. OUR CHILDREN ARE LIVING ON BROKEN

[01:25:02]

VIOLENCE IS THE LANGUAGE OF THE UNHEARD. WHEN THESE KIDS END UP IN THE MOTELS AND THE BUS PULLS UP IN A PARKING LOT TO PICK THEM UP. HOW DO YOU THINK THEY FEEL WHEN THE KIDS ON THE BUS TEASING THEM? AND THEY GOT TO GO TO SCHOOL AND DEAL WITH MAN? OR HOW DO YOU THINK OF A KID FEELS WHEN THEY COME HOME? THERE'S NO WATER IN THEIR HOUSE. THEY CAN'T BRUSH THEIR TEETH. THE YOUNG KID WHO PLAYED BASKETBALL REAL GREAT IN THE EVENING COMES HOME AND WANTS TO TAKE A SHOWER AND GET READY FOR SCHOOL THE NEXT DAY, BUT HE HAS NO WATER PROMISES WERE BROKEN TO A YOUNG PERSON WHO'S TRYING TO DO THE RIGHT THING. ALL OF US ARE TO BLAME. AND UNTIL WE LOOK AT THE REASONS WHY IT IS HAPPENING. EXACTLY WHAT IS HAPPENING. TELL THE TRUTH ABOUT WHAT IS HAPPENING. WE CANNOT COME UP WITH ENOUGH SOLUTIONS IF WE DON'T FIRST LOOK AT THE ACTUAL PROBLEMS OF WHAT'S IN OUR SOCIETY, AND WE TALKED ABOUT OUR KIDS IN SCHOOL. THEY'RE IN SCHOOL. A LOT OF THEM DON'T EVEN WANT TO GO TO SCHOOL NOWADAYS. BECAUSE THEY DON'T WANT THE BULLYING. THEY CAN'T CONFRONT THE OTHER KIDS WHO KNOW I GOT EVICTED LAST NIGHT. THEY DON'T HAVE THAT WITHIN THEM. WE HAVE BEAT THEM DOWN. IT'S A LIKE MISS WRIGHT SAID. THERE'S A SOCIETAL SYSTEMIC. PROBLEM IN THE CITY AND WE HAVE GOT TO REALIZE IT AND THEN ADDRESS IT. THANK YOU SO MUCH, COUNCILWOMAN. THANK YOU. YES, MA'AM. I THINK ONE OF OUR ANSWERS WILL COME WITH. ONE OF THE INSTITUTIONS WITHIN THE CITY OF ALWAYS SAID AS A CHURCH ON EVERY CORNER. IN PETERSBURG. THERE'S A CHURCH AND I REMEMBER WHEN I FIRST STARTED TEACHING AT PETERSBURG HIGH SCHOOL, I COULD ASK, YOU KNOW WHAT CHURCH DO Y'ALL GO TO AND THEY WOULD RAISE THEIR HANDS. I GO TO MOUNT OLIVET, I GO TO GOOD SHEPHERD, I GO THERE I GO. HERE I GO THERE. I CAN ASK THAT SAME QUESTION IN CLASS NOW. WHAT CHURCH? SILENCE.

AND WITH EVERYTHING WITHIN ME. I THINK THAT'S PART OF THE PROBLEM. I WASOLD I WAS TOLD THAT THERE ARE, UM OKAY? I AND I GET THAT I GET THAT AND THAT BUT I'M JUST SAYING, I AM SAYING THAT PART OF THAT. THAT RESPECT THAT GOD LEVEL RESPECT. PLAYS A PART IN THE DECISIONS THAT YOU MAKE, AND I UNDERSTAND YOU HAVE TO HAVE JOBS TO PAY YOUR BILLS. BUT THAT STILL DOESN'T KEEP YOU FROM GOING TO CHURCH. I. THAT'S WHAT YOU WANT. OH, OKAY, ALRIGHT.

OKAY? WITHIN THE CITY OF PETERSBURG. OKAY AND I'LL GET THAT WE CANNOT GET TO EVERY QUESTION WITH 19 PANEL MEMBERS. I APOLOGIZE. WE DID NOT GET TO YOUR SECOND QUESTION AND THAT ONE OF YOUR QUESTIONS WAS RED. BUT WE CANNOT GET TO EVERY QUESTION BECAUSE SOME OF US DO HAVE TO GET UP TOMORROW MORNING AND GO TO WORK . UM SO I APOLOGIZE IF WE DID NOT GET TO THAT WHEN WE WILL TRY. IF I CAN GO BACK TO THE CHURCHES FOR A MINUTE, I WAS TOLD THAT THERE ARE 150 CHURCHES IN THE CITY OF PETERSBURG. THAT WAS MY REACTION, TOO. SO IF I'M WRONG ABOUT THE NUMBER, PLEASE? SOMEBODY CORRECT ME. BUT THERE ARE 100 AND 50 QUESTIONS AND OF CHURCHES IN THE CITY OF

[01:30:05]

ONCE EVERYBODY THEN YOU KNOW, TAKING THEMSELVES AND GOING HOME . THE FUNERALS COME TO OUR DOOR DOORSTEP. AND LET ME GIVE YOU AND I'M JUST GONNA BRIEFLY DO THIS. LET ME GIVE YOU WHAT HAPPENS WHEN WE HAVE TO PARTICIPATE IN A FUNERAL, ESPECIALLY WHEN THERE'S BEEN A HOMICIDE. AND ONE YOUNG MAN HAS KILLED ANOTHER YOUNG MAN. WE HAVE TO THEN PLAN TO HAVE THAT FUNERAL AND OUR PARTICULAR LOCATION. ONCE WE PLAN THERE IS A PLETHORA OF POST ON FACEBOOK.

SAYING THEY'RE GOING TO RETALIATE. SO THE FUNERAL IS NOW PLAYING WITH THE EXPECTATION OF RETALIATION. THE PASTOR NOW HAS TO GO IN. WE HAVE TO GO IN AND WE HAVE TO HAVE THIS FUNERAL. WE HAVE TO CONDUCT THIS FUNERAL. WE HAVE TO SET THIS FUNERAL UP. WATCH THIS WITH RETALIATION IN THE ATMOSPHERE. AND WATCH THIS WITH GUNS IN THE SANCTUARY. BECAUSE BECAUSE CONTRARY TO WHAT SOME OF Y'ALL THINK OR DON'T THINK, THESE GUYS ARE BRINGING GUNS TO THE FUNERAL. THAT'S WHY THEY JUST SHOT UP A REPAST. AND LET ME SHARE THIS WITH YOU. AND I'M I'M A SLOW DOWN. I'M A CALM DOWN. UM WESLEY AND HOBBS AND AH! REVEREND JAMISON AND BARRY. I THINK HE'S GONE. SOME OF US THAT HAS HAS CONTACT AND WE'RE WE'RE TOUCHING. WE'RE HANDS ON WITH WHAT'S HAPPENING, AND THEY LISTEN TO US, WESLEY THEY HEAR US, JAMISON. THEY HEAR US. BUT THE STRATEGY AND THE PLAN IS NOT IN PLACE. SO WE HAVE NOTHING ELSE TO OFFER THEM. SO WE'RE DOING A FUNERAL AS A PASTOR WITH A 24 YEAR OLD KID. WHO'S THAT LAND IN THE CASTING WITH WATCH THIS HE HAS HE HAD 123 AGES OF THE KIDS, 123 AND FOUR. AND THE FOUR YEAR OLD THE WHOLE TIME WE'RE DOING. THE FUNERAL IS SITTING THERE CRYING, MY DAD. MY DADDY. MY DADDY, MY DADDY. AND IN THE BACK OF MY MIND, I'M SAYING WE NEED A PLAN. AND LISTEN, WE JUST CAN'T SAY THE CHURCH. IS RESPONSIBLE. NO NO, NO, NO, NO, THE ENTIRE CITY IS RESPONSIBLE. AND UNTIL AND I'M GONNA SAY THIS. I'M GONNA KEEP THIS AS BRIEF AS I POSSIBLY CAN. AND THANK YOU, CHIEF. THANK YOU FOR YOUR PARTICIPATION BECAUSE I ACTUALLY CALLED THEM UP AND ASKED THEM. FOR SECURITY ASKED HIM ON A REGULAR BASIS. IN FACT, I'M IN THE HEART OF THINGS. I'M RIGHT THEN ELECTABLE HEIGHTS. I JUST HAD A SHOOTING, RIGHT? I'M STANDING OUT THERE TALKING TO A PARTICULAR UH, LEGITIMATE. THE OTHER DAY, AND GUNSHOTS ARE

[01:35:04]

THEY'RE NOT THE PROBLEM. I PROMISE YOU, THEY ARE NOT. THE PROBLEM IS THE KIDS THAT GRADUATED FROM HIGH SCHOOL THAT DON'T HAVE NOWHERE TO WORK? NOWHERE TO GO NOWHERE TO LIVE RUNNING DRUGS. THEY RUN INTO STREET. THAT'S THE PROBLEM. AND I AND I BELIEVE WITH ALL MY HEART. I BELIEVE I BELIEVE THIS BECAUSE THEY DO LISTEN. DON'T YOU ALL THINK THAT THESE ARE SOME KIDS OUT HERE THEY DO. LISTEN, BUT YOU HAVE TO COME. WATCH THIS WITH RESOLVE. YOU CAN NOT COME TALKING ABOUT ANYTHING ELSE. YOU HAVE TO COME WITH A SOLUTION. AND I AND I LISTEN, I AM CHALLENGING EVERYBODY IN THIS ROOM. EVERYONE IN THIS ROOM. LET'S COME UP WITH A STRATEGY.

WHAT ARE WE GOING TO DO? LISTEN THE BEST TIME THAT WE HAVE THESE KIDS AND I HATE TO SAY THIS, BUT THIS IS THE TRUTH. IS THAT A FUNERAL? THERE THERE. THEIR WALL TO WALL. WESLEY THEY ARE LINING UP. THEY GOT GUNS IN THEIR POCKETS. THEY THEY'RE SITTING THERE, AND I DON'T I DON'T EVEN PREACH THE FUNERALS ANYMORE. I TALK I TOLD BECAUSE BECAUSE THEY NEED CONVERSATION. AND THEN AFTER THE FUNERAL, I MAKE SURE I GO. I GO TO THEM AND I WALK UP TO THEM AND I ASKED THEM WE ALL COMMIT NOT TO DO ANYTHING FOR AT LEAST A MONTH. I BEG AND PLEAD WITH HIM, WESLEY. YOU KNOW WHY? BECAUSE I KNOW THE PERSON THAT'S GONNA RETALIATE. NEXT IS IN THAT ROOM. AND THAT'S THE REALITY.

AND SO WITH THAT IN MIND. I THINK WE HAVE TO COME UP WITH A STRATEGY THAT'S RADICAL. RADICAL TIMES CALLS FOR RADICAL STRATEGIES. AND I'M JUST, UH, YOU KNOW, I'M A COUNTRY BOY FROM SUSSEX COUNTY. AND A LOT OF THINGS WE HAVE, BUT WE SCARED, YOU KNOW. BUT AT THE SAME TIME IF WE SIT IN THIS ROOM AND WE COME BACK NEXT WEEK OR NEXT MONTH WITH ANOTHER MEETING, WE'RE WASTING TIME. IF WE DON'T COME BACK WITH THE STRATEGY AND THE PLAN WE WON'T SEE NO RESULTS. THANK YOU SO MUCH. AND SO REVEREND J. MAC. WITH THAT IN MIND. WHAT ARE SOME IDEAS? WHAT? WHETHER SOMETHING'S YOU KNOW, WE SAY THE WE DON'T EVEN MENTION MARCHES AND WALKS BECAUSE THEY HAVE NO OUTCOME. UM OTHER THAN JUST GATHERING. TOGETHER SO WHAT WOULD YOU SAY? WHAT WOULD YOU SAY? ARE SOME OF THOSE RADICAL IDEAS. I MEAN, WE'VE SAID OVER AND OVER AGAIN. I KNOW I'VE SAID REAL RELATIONSHIPS. UM MANY OF OUR CHURCHES WHERE THEY'RE LOCATED YOUR RIDE. RIGHT BYE.

GROUP OF LET'S SAY 15, YOUNG MEN AND LADIES, LET'S NOT ACT LIKE IT'S JUST MALES. MUSIC BLASTING.

THEY'RE SMOKING LOUD AS THEY USED TO CALL IT. AND RATHER THAN TAKING ADVANTAGE OF THOSE OPPORTUNITIES TO TALK TO SOMEBODY. WE'LL DRIVE RIGHT BY SO FOR THE CHURCH, RADICAL THINGS IS GETTING OUTSIDE OF THE SANCTUARY. BECAUSE IT'S NOT JUST ABOUT SUNDAY. IT'S NOT JUST ABOUT HOOPING. WE GOT TO BE WILLING TO GO OUT WHERE PEOPLE ARE. AND YOU MAY NOT GET EVERYBODY ON ONE NIGHT. BUT IF WE CAN SAVE ONE LIFE AT A TIME THEN WE CAN MAKE A DIFFERENCE.

IT WAS A LOT OF PEOPLE DON'T KNOW ABOUT THE CHURCH BECAUSE CHURCH TAKES A LOT OF BLOWS. LOT

[01:40:06]

YOU GOTTA LET THE CHURCH THE CHURCH WE LOVE JESUS. WE'RE NOT ASHAMED OF AND SO IF WE GET AN OPPORTUNITY TO REALLY TALK WITH PEOPLE, THEN SOME REAL CHANGE CAN HAPPEN. BUT I'M BOLD ENOUGH TO NOT EXCLUDE MY BROTHERS AND SISTERS FROM THE NATION. BARRING MOHAMMED. HE'S DONE A LOT OF GREAT THINGS, AND THEY'RE DOING A LOT OF GREAT THINGS THAT PEOPLE DON'T EVEN TALK ABOUT.

THE FAITH BASED COMMUNITY IS NOT JUST THE CHURCH. AND AS MUCH AS I LOVE JESUS, I'M NOT ASHAMED TO SAY THAT. BUT WE ALL HAVE A RESPONSIBILITY. AND SO SOME OF THE RADICAL THINGS IS REAL RELATIONSHIPS. YES WE CAN DO MIDNIGHT BASKETBALL. YES, WE CAN DO SUMMER CAMPS AND DAYCARES.

WE'VE BEEN DOING THAT. WE'LL KEEP DOING THOSE THINGS BECAUSE THEY'RE GOOD. BUT SOMEBODY HAS TO BE INNOVATIVE TO MEET PEOPLE WHERE THEY ARE. WELL, WHAT WOULD IT LOOK LIKE? IF CHURCHES HAD AN ONLINE MINISTRY TO MEET THESE KIDS ON TIKTOK AND FACEBOOK AND INSTAGRAM WHEN THEY WERE REALLY TALKING ABOUT THREATENING PEOPLE? WE CAN'T JUST WAIT FOR THEM TO COME TO OUR CHURCH.

BECAUSE MOST CHURCHES IN PETERSBURG OR WHAT THEY CALL COMMUTER CHURCHES, AND FOR THOSE WHO DON'T KNOW WHAT THE TERM COMMUNITY CHURCHES IS. THAT MEANS MOST OF YOUR CONGREGATION DOES NOT LIVE HERE. MOST OF THE RESIDENTS IN PETERSBURG DON'T HAVE A CHURCH HOME. AND SO WE HAVE TO BE WILLING TO MEET PEOPLE WHERE THEY ARE. I HOPE THAT ANSWERS YOUR QUESTION. YES, SIR. IT DOES. AND.

SORRY THANK YOU VERY MUCH. SO MR MILLER, I WANT TO COME BACK TO YOU FOR A MINUTE BECAUSE THE QUESTION WAS, IT WAS RAISED ABOUT THE FROM THE PASTORS, AND THE QUESTION WAS ABOUT JOBS AND THE CITY. SO IS THERE ANYTHING IN THE WORKS TO BRING THAT? EMPLOYMENT ASPECT. TO PETERSBURG . I KNOW. YOU KNOW, THEY HAD TALKED ABOUT THE HOTEL, UM, HEARD ABOUT ANOTHER VENTURE THAT WELL. UNFORTUNATELY THE CASINO WOULD HAVE BROUGHT JOBS TO THE AREA, BUT THAT WAS TURNED DOWN BY THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY. SO IS THERE SOMETHING IN THE WORKS? FOR EMPLOYMENT BECAUSE IT IS SO THAT THE VIOLENCE IN CITIES ARE IN THE CITIES THAT ARE SUFFERING THE MOST WITH. IT WITH EMPLOYMENT. THE POOR CITIES THAT SUFFERING SO IS THERE SOMETHING IN THE WORKS WITH THE CITY OF PETERSBURG? YES, MA'AM, AND I HAVE TO SAY TO EVERYONE. PLEASE FORGIVE ME FOR HOLDING MY HEAD DOWN. I HAD EYE SURGERY ON FRIDAY. SO THE LIGHT KIND OF BOTHERS MY EYES. SO PLEASE FORGIVE ME TO SEE MY HEAD DOWN. JUST BEEN TRYING TO SHIELD MY EYES FROM THE LIGHT. EMPLOYMENT IS ALWAYS BEEN A CHALLENGE. A YEAR AND A HALF AGO OR FEBRUARY OF LAST YEAR. PETERSBURG STARTED AN INITIATIVE AND I'M GONNA AGAIN THANK OUR COUNCIL FOR SUPPORTING ME ON THAT, BUT WE

[01:45:05]

AND I SPOKE WITH HER TODAY, UH, YOUNG LADY FROM THE VIRGINIA EMPLOYMENT COMMISSION, AND THEY'RE GOING TO EXPAND IT PAST 30 JOBS. SO WE'VE NOW PARTNER WITH VIRGINIA STATE UNIVERSITY AND BRINGING SOME OF THEIR INTERNS ON SO THIS IS MORPHING AS WE TALK. THAT'S PART OF THE STRATEGY TO TEACH PEOPLE ABOUT EMPLOYMENT ABOUT GETTING PEOPLE IN A STATE WHERE THEY'RE NO LONGER DEPENDING ON THINGS OR OUTSIDE ENTITIES THAT ARE DISTRACTIONS. OUR STUDENTS WILL BE MAKING $12 AN HOUR. STARTING THIS SUMMER. THAT'S THE START. IS IT A GREAT WAGE? NO. BEFORE 14 YEAR OLD KID $12 AN HOUR, SIX HOURS A DAY, FIVE DAYS A WEEK? YES, MA'AM, WE'RE STARTING, SYNTHESIZED CHALLENGE YOU WE'RE NOT SITTING ON OUR DUFF DOING NOTHING. WE'RE TAKING ADVANTAGE OF AN OPPORTUNITY TO HELP PEOPLE AND I USE MYSELF AS AN EXAMPLE. I'M RETIRED. I'M HERE BECAUSE WESLEY SAID IT BECAUSE I CARE. I'M IN THE CITY OF PETERSBURG EVERY DAY BECAUSE I CARE. I CARE ABOUT PEOPLE AND WE'VE GOT TO MAKE A START. SO I HOPE I NEEDED TO QUESTION I APPRECIATE THAT AND UNDERSTAND THAT THAT WAS A YOUTH, BUT I THINK WHAT THEY'RE REFERRING VACANCIES RIGHT NOW IN THE CITY OF PETERSBURG. SORRY. SAY THAT AGAIN. BACON SEEDS RIGHT NOW, IF YOU'RE GOING TO CITIES WEBSITE WHAT? WHAT PAGE BEGIN ME. WE HAVE 40 VACANCIES. RIGHT NOW. WE'RE LOOKING TO HIRE 40 PEOPLE IN DIFFERENT AREAS OF THE CITY, AND WE JUST HIRED A NEW HR DIRECTOR SHE STARTED TODAY. MRS WHITE, WHO BE SPEARHEADING THAT THAT DRIVE WITH RESPECT TO GETTING PEOPLE ON BOARD AND GETTING PEOPLE TO WORK, SO WE WANT TO DO IT HERE IN THE CITY BECAUSE WE BELIEVE THE WORKFORCE THAT'S HERE IN THE CITY. YOU CAN ONLY BUILD A CITY UP, MAN. OKAY SO THAT THAT'S WHAT I THINK. THEY WERE REFERRING TO NOT JUST JOBS FOR THE YOUTH, BUT JOBS FOR THE ADULTS. IN THE CITY OF PETERSBURG. OKAY SO I THINK THAT'S WHAT THEY WERE REFERRING TO, AND ARE THERE ANY IS THERE ANY MOVE TO BRING EMPLOYMENT OR BUSINESSES INTO THE CITY? UH STEPPING WITH THAT WHEN I WAS ONE OF THE BIGGEST THINGS WE HAVE GOING ON IN PETERSBURG RIGHT NOW IS, UM OUR PHARMACEUTICAL INDUSTRY THAT'S COMING TO THE CITY, WHERE AM PACKED CIVIC AND FLOW. CORPORATION AND ALL OF THESE COMPANIES ARE LOOKING TO START RECRUITING THEM. BUT YOU HAVE TO WORK THROUGH PETERSBURG SCHOOLS WHO HAVE PARTNERSHIPS WITH RICHARD BLAINE AND JOHN TYLER TO GET OUR KIDS TRAINED TO BE PHARMACEUTICAL TEXTS AND THESE PHARMACEUTICAL TEXT START OFF. OUT THE DOOR WAS $60,000 A YEAR. YOU KNOW, COMING STRAIGHT OUT OF SCHOOL, AND THESE COMPANIES ARE IN PETERSBURG. NOW THEY'RE BUILDING THEIR FACILITIES. NOW WE JUST NEED OUR YOUNG PEOPLE TO GET IN THE PIPELINE TO GET TRAINED. TO GET THOSE JOBS. OKAY SO THAT'S JUST A MINIMUM OF 60 AND PACK IS BASED IN CALIFORNIA . SO THEY PAYING CALIFORNIA WAGES IN THE CITY OF PETERSBURG . SO THAT MEANS THEIR AVERAGE SALARY OVER THERE IS $80,000, ALL RIGHT? AND THAT'S JUST FOR SOMEONE WHO'S WHO'S WHO'S UM MANUFACTURING, PUTTING, UM, MEDICINES IN BOXES TYPE JOBS, SO THERE'S SOMETHING THAT THAT WE'RE TRYING TO EXPOSE OUR KIDS TO. THEY HAVE ALREADY FORMED PARTNERSHIPS WITH PETERSBURG SCHOOLS AND DONATED A PLAYGROUND TO, UH WHAT WAS HIS LANE ELEMENTARY. AND WE JUST HAVE TO GET OUT IN FRONT OF THAT, BECAUSE IF THERE'S RESIDENTS IN THE CITY OF PETERSBURG DON'T GRASP THIS OPPORTUNITY BECAUSE

[01:50:03]

WE WANT TO GO AROUND THE ROOM BECAUSE PEOPLE HAVE TAKEN THE TIME OUT TO COME HERE TONIGHT.

WE ALSO WANT TO HEAR FROM THEM WHAT THEY MAY HAVE TO SAY ANY COMMENTS THEY HAVE. SO PLEASE MOVE THE MIC AROUND THE ROOM FOR ANYONE. RAISE YOUR HAND IF YOU HAVE COMMENT. YOU WOULD LIKE TO MAKE. HELLO I'M A PETERSBURG RESIDENTS AND I'VE JUST GOT A COUPLE QUESTIONS ABOUT THE PARTNERSHIP. I HEARD HER ASK ABOUT PERFORMING ARTS. IS THERE ANY PARTNERSHIPS BETWEEN COMMUNITY GROUPS? CHURCHES NONPROFIT WHERE THEY CAN ALL COME TOGETHER? KNOW WHAT THE RESOURCES THEY HAVE FOR THE CHILDREN AND HOW TO DISTRIBUTE THEM. CAN YOU? YES. CAN YOU GIVE THAT TO MISS BAIL? SHE WORKS. IN THE OFFICE WITH A LOT OF OUR PARTNERS, AND I'VE JUST GOT A TWO MORE TO ADD TO THAT. IS THERE A RESOURCE FOR A LOW INCOME FAMILIES WHERE THEY CAN GET THEIR CHILDREN INVOLVED WHERE SOMEBODY CAN HELP THEM FINANCIALLY? AND HOW DO PEOPLE IN THE CITY GO ABOUT VOLUNTEERING FOR THANKS TO HELP OUT THE YOUTH. GOOD AFTERNOON, EVERYONE. SO THE FIRST QUESTION , UM WAS IN REFERENCE TO VARIOUS POINTS CAN REPEAT YOUR QUESTION . JUST SOME CLEAR EXACTLY. WHAT WHAT YOU WANTED. EVERYBODY HERE IS TALKING ABOUT HELPING THE YOUTH. BUT DO YOU GUYS HAVE A PARTNERSHIP WITH EACH OTHER? LIKE THE CHURCHES, THE BOYS AND GIRLS CLUBS, YOU KNOW ANY OF THESE NONPROFITS THAT HAVE THINGS GOING ON? FOR THE YOUTH.

DO YOU GUYS GET TOGETHER ALL YOUR RESOURCES AND THEN GET THEM BACK OUT INTO THE COMMUNITY, SO PEOPLE IN THE COMMUNITY KNOW WHERE THEY CAN TAKE THEIR KIDS. YOU KNOW, LIKE A ONE STOP SHOP.

WELL I'M CALLING YOU AND YOU'RE SAYING WELL, I WANT TO GET MY KIDS AND PERFORMING ARTS WELL, THIS CHURCH IN THIS CHURCH AND THIS ORGANIZATION NONPROFIT DOESN'T PERFORMING ARTS, YOU KNOW, SO WHERE WHEN PEOPLE COME AND ASK WHETHER YOU CAN GO WE HAVE ALL THESE RESOURCES IN ONE BASKET AND WE CAN DISTRIBUTE THEM TO THE COMMUNITY. ONE OF THE AREAS TO ADDRESS THAT PART.

WE DO HAVE WHAT WE CALL A CITY. UM SCHOOLS PARTNERSHIP, AND THAT REALLY INVOLVES A LOT OF OUR STATE AGENCIES OR CITY AGENCIES THAT WE ALL COME TOGETHER TWICE A MONTH ON FRIDAY, SO EVERYBODY SHARES FROM THE SCHOOL STANDPOINT, WHAT'S HAPPENING, SO EVERYONE KNOWS WHAT'S HAPPENING WITHIN OUR SCHOOLS. MISS LORDS, SEVERAL AGENCIES, DSS. ANYONE'S WELCOME, BE A PART OF THAT, AND THEN VICE VERSA. THOSE ORGANIZATIONS AND THEN SHARING WITH US. WHAT ARE THE THINGS THAT YOU'RE OFFERING, AND WE SHARE THE INFORMATION WITH OUR STUDENTS? AS A MATTER OF FACT, FROM THAT, I'M JUST LOOKING WITH THE QUESTION OF JUST HAPPENED ABOUT FINANCE. I'M SORRY ABOUT EMPLOYMENT. THE VIRGINIA EMPLOYMENT COMMISSION, FOR EXAMPLE, THEY JUST SENT A FLYER OUT IN REFERENCE TO SECOND CHANCE EMPLOYMENT. SO THIS INFORMATION HAS COME OUR WAY WE SEND THIS INFORMATION. NOW WE TRY TO TWEET IT OUT. WE GIVE IT TO OUR SCHOOLS. WE'VE HELD VARIOUS PARENT CONNECTED SESSIONS IN WHICH THESE ARE SESSIONS FOR PARENTS WOULD EVER TOPICS OF INTEREST. BUT LIKE THIS SECOND CHANCE EMPLOYMENT FAIR IS HAPPENING THIS THURSDAY , AND THAT'S FOR THOSE WHO NEED THAT SECOND CHANCE THEY MIGHT HAVE BEEN INCARCERATED, ETCETERA . THERE'S IMMEDIATE HIGHER, UM, LOOKING AT ANOTHER FLYER THAT THEY HAVE THEIR HAVING WORKFORCE WEDNESDAYS FROM THE VIRGINIA CAREER WORK, SO THE EMPLOYMENT PIECE IT'S JUST WHAT'S THE BEST AVENUE TO GET ALL THIS INFORMATION OUT THERE, SO WE KIND OF SHARE. SEND IT OUT. BUT FROM THE SCHOOL STANDPOINT, WE GET THIS BECAUSE WE WANT OUR PARENTS AS A YOUNG LADY OVER THERE, SAID THE MORE WE CAN EDUCATE AND PROVIDE RESOURCES AND INFORMATION TO OUR PARENTS, THE BETTER THAN ABLE TO HELP THEIR CHILDREN AS WELL. SO ONE QUOTE ONE RESPONSE TO CITY SCHOOLS PARTNERSHIP WAS ONE AND THEN ALSO AGENCIES LIKE OUR SCHOOL SYSTEM. WE WORK VERY CLOSELY WITH PARKS AND LEISURE. THEY'VE BEEN VARIOUS ORGANIZATIONS THAT REACH OUT TO US. WE WORK WITH MISS LAURA WITH THE POLICE DEPARTMENT AND WE ALL TALK ABOUT HOW DO WE READ AND STATE PALS? HOW DO WE MAKE SURE WE'RE CONNECTING OUR KIDS TO SUMMER ACADEMY AND THEN PROVIDING THOSE AFTER SCHOOL ACTIVITIES? HOW DO WE KEEP OUR KIDS BUSY AND ENGAGED? WHO ELSE CAN PROVIDE AFTER SCHOOL? UM ACTIVITIES FOR OUR KIDS, EXTRA CURRICULA. WE HAVE A MAN ON THE MISSION. WE HAVE PROMOTED THAT OUT WITH THAT IS YOU'VE HEARD ABOUT THE DADS ON DUTY. THE SESSION THAT WAS HAPPENING WITH MEN WHO TOOK OVER THE SCHOOL WALKING THROUGH IN LOUISIANA. WE SAID IN LOUISIANA CAN DO IT PETERSBURG AND DO IT TOO. SO WE KICKED THAT OFF BACK IN NOVEMBER. AND OF COURSE WE START STRONG, BUT WE NEED THAT DADS AND OUR FATHERS AND MEN FIGURED WE NEED EVERYBODY TO BE CONSISTENT. WE SEND THOSE MEETINGS WE WERE MEETING WEEKLY.

ALL DAY LONG, JUST TRYING TO MAKE SURE WE CAN GET THINGS DONE AND WE PROMOTE. WE NEED YOUR HELP. WE WANT TO BE IN THE COMMUNITY. WE HAVE A WAVE BUS. WE CREATED THAT WAY BUS TO BE OUT. GO WHERE PARENTS ARE AND WHEN IT'S OUT THERE, WE PROVIDE FINANCE INFORMATION WORKFORCE.

AS INFORMATION FOR KIDS, BUT WHEN WE SHOW UP, WE NEED PEOPLE TO BE THERE. SO HOW DO WE WORK

[01:55:04]

[02:00:01]

EVERYBODY, NOT COLLEGE MATERIAL. SOME OF US ARE TRADESMEN. AND WHEN PEOPLE CAN'T GO TO COLLEGE, THEY NEED TO BE ABLE TO DO SOMETHING ELSE. SO WE ARE ACCREDITED SCHOOL. SO WHAT I DO IS WE GET GAS FROM THE JAIL. WE GET GUYS FROM THE FEDERAL PRISONS WERE GETTING FROM DISTRICT 19. WE GO OUT AND GET THEM FROM THE STREET. I BELIEVE IF WE TAKE THE DRUG, THE GUN OUT OF HIS HAND THE DRUGS OUT HIS HAND AND FOR THE SKILL IN HIS HAND, HE CAN BE A BETTER PERSON.

AND WE TAKE THE TIME OUT, AND I DON'T WANT TO DO WE JUST TEACH, YOU KNOW BARBARA COLUMN IN CHARGE, BUT WE DO TEACH THEM INTO A SHIP. WE TEACH ENTREPRENEURSHIP AND I LET THEM KNOW YOU STILL GET THE SAME $10. YOU THINKING THE SAME $20 IF YOU GET $10 IN 15 MINUTES. THAT'S $40 AN HOUR. YOU ALREADY PASSED MINIMUM WAGE. BUT THEY DON'T KNOW UNTIL YOU TELL THEM IF YOU DON'T SHOW THEM, BUT SOMETIMES YOU JUST HAVE TO SHOW THEM THAT LOVE LIKE THE CHURCHES, EVEN THE CHURCHES TO MELVILLE YET WE'LL BE IN PETERSBURG. WE'RE GONNA BE DROPPING OFF 2030 PEOPLE AROUND ALL THE PROJECTS. WE COULD BE IN MOST RECORD NEXT WEEK. WE'VE BEEN BLACK WELL, LAST WEEK WAS IN THE PROJECTS WE'VE BEEN OUT SINCE THE PANDEMIC. THEY HAD IT ON THE NEWS, AND WE SHUT DOWN.

NO, BECAUSE WE KNOW PEOPLE HUNGRY. PEOPLE HAVE NO JOBS, AND WE STILL WAS GETTING TOGETHER, GOING OUT THERE AND HELPING PEOPLE OUT AND THAT'S WHERE THE CHILDREN DO. WE SOMETIMES LOOK LIKE THE CHILDREN DON'T DO NOTHING TO CHURCH TO DO DO A LOT. SO I'M TRYING TO TELL YOU IF YOU GOT ANY MEN WHO NEED HELP? ARGUE MY CELLPHONE NUMBER 804. 919. 3143 THE SCHOOL NUMBER 804733 33 37 LET ME HELP PUT A SKILL IN THIS YOUNG MAN'S HAND IN THIS YOUNG LADY'S HAND AND MAKE A DIFFERENCE IN HER LIFE. AND IF YOU'RE LOOKING FOR A CHURCH HOME, I'M IN MELBOURNE, GILEAD, BUT THE CHURCHES HERE THEY NEED YOUR HELP. THEY NEED YOUR HELP. A LOT OF TIME WE SEE THE PASTORS ON TV. I ALWAYS GOT THE PASTOR GERALD CURL BUCK TEETH ALCOHOLIC AND HEAR A WOMAN AS HER YES, I DID DEPICT OUR PASTORS AND Y'ALL KNOW THAT'S A LOT. BUT THE YOUNG FOLKS SEE THAT AND THEY THINK IT'S A JOKE. SO THEY DON'T WANT TO GO TO CHURCH BECAUSE THEY THINK HE'S A JOKE, BUT IT'S NOT THE TRUTH. THEY GOT SOME REAL ALSO MEN HERE IN PETERSBURG AND THE MAYOR AND THE CHIEF. I MEAN, THESE HAVE BEEN SOME AWESOME PIECES HAVE BEEN BY MY SIDE SINCE DAY ONE.

I'M TELLING YOU GUYS CHIEF. WE TALKED ABOUT THAT WHEN WE WERE DOING, UM, THE COUNCIL MEETING BEFORE WHEN I WAS ON THE BOARD, UH, ETHICS PANEL CHAIRMAN. WE WERE TRYING TO DO RELATIONSHIPS . SCHOOLS OPENING BACK UP. PANDEMIC IS UP. WELL I BELIEVE ACHIEVING THEM COULD BE GOING BACK INTO THE AH SCHOOLS AND BUILD A RELATIONSHIP WITH THESE YOUNG MEN. BECAUSE YOU'RE RIGHT . THEY'RE NOT GOING TO TELL THE POLICE THAT BEING MOLESTED. THEY'RE NOT GONNA TELL THE POLICE THAT THEY ARE HUNGRY. BUT IF THEY BUILD A RELATIONSHIP WITH HIM, LIKE JUDGE, UH, MAN HE WAS THE COACH WAS WITH THEM YOUNG BOYS. YOU KNOW, THAT'S WHAT WE NEED TO DO. WE GOT TO GET ON THE TEAM. TWO GUYS. OLDER MEN. SOME OF THE OLDER MUSIC HERE. WE IN HERE JUST TO COMPLAIN THERE. IF YOU'RE GONNA HELP OUT, COME ON, WE NEED YOU. YOU MIGHT CAN'T COACH WOULD BE ON THE SIDE, LIKE PASS OUT SOME JUICE OR SOMETHING. YOU KNOW, LET'S GET IN THE GAME. LET'S GET INTO FIGHT. LET'S HELP OUT THE MAIL, EVERYBODY, YOU KNOW. THANK YOU. GOOD EVENING, EVERYONE. MY NAME IS CARL MATTHEWS. AND I'M FROM PETERSBURG, VIRGINIA. ORIGINAL GOLF TEAM AND PEOPLE AT THE HIGH SCHOOL 1962 63. GOLF. A LOT OF THESE KIDS. VEHICLE OR AVENUE OUT OF PARK. TRUST ME WHEN I TELL YOU. APPARENTLY THIS ISN'T AN ANTI GOLF COMMUNITY. BECAUSE WE HAVE A WONDERFUL PRODUCT OVER AND DOGWOOD TRACE GOLF. NO HARDLY ANYBODY KNOWS IT WITH THESE KIDS GET TO PLAY FOR FREE. JUST GOT 12 NEW SETS OF CLUBS IN THERE, SO AND I GOT ABOUT FIVE SETS OF CLUBS AT MY HOUSE. ANYBODY CAN BORROW ANYTIME THEY WANT, BUT WE'VE GOT TO GET THESE KIDS IN THAT GOLF OR RE NICHOLS. THIS IS DIFFERENT LIFESTYLE. TIGER WOODS WHEN HE FIRST STARTED PLAYING GOLF HIT AND HIT IT DIDN'T EVEN HIT A PROFESSIONAL CORRUPTION. $63 MILLION HERE WE ARE NEW OVER IN HAWAII. 6 16 YEARS OLD. SHE GOT A CONTRACT FOR NIKE $10 MILLION , BUT I'M TELLING YOU MORE THAN THAT. IT'S A LIFESTYLE CHANGE. THEY HAVE TO BE A CERTAIN WAY WHEN THEY'RE IN THAT ARENA.

TRUST ME WHEN I TELL YOU, BUT ANYWAY, THANK YOU SO MUCH. THANK YOU. OKAY I HAVE A QUESTION AND

[02:05:01]

I'M AT THE MINION. AND I'M WATCHING THEM BRINGING IN VIRGINIA TECH AND WATCHING THEM BRING IN UV A AND I'M TALKING TO THESE KIDS AND TELLING THEM ABOUT PETERSBURG. AND SO WHEN THEY TALK ABOUT THE RECREATION CENTER, PLEASE DON'T LEAVE OUR STEM. BECAUSE UM, THE LADY WHO WAS JUST TALKING ABOUT THE CODING? YEAH PUT CODING IN THE RECREATION CENTERS. YOU KNOW, UM , I KNOW YOU WORKED WITH THE PHARMACEUTICALS WHEN THEY CAME DOWN. YOU'RE GONNA HAVE TO ASK THEM FOR WHAT YOU WANT, BECAUSE THEY WILL GIVE YOU WHAT YOU WANT. GET THEM TO START HELP YOU STAFF. UM A RECREATION CENTER. THEY WILL DO THAT. I KNOW THEY WILL. BECAUSE I WROTE, I WROTE THE CHECKS FOR THE COMMUNITY THINGS THAT THEY'VE DONE. UM AND SO WITH THAT, UM PLEASE DON'T LEAVE THAT OFF, AND I WANT TO KEEP ON SAYING IT BECAUSE YOU'RE GOING TO HAVE TO DO THAT.

BECAUSE THESE KIDS KNOW THAT THEY CAN GET ON THESE SOCIAL MEDIA AND THEY KNOW THEY CAN MAKE MONEY. YOU KNOW, AND SO THERE'S MONEY THAT THEY COULD BE MAKING RIGHT NOW, JUST BY DOING THOSE THINGS. UM THE SECOND THING IS THIS IS A QUESTION BECAUSE I MEAN, I GOTTA SEND THIS IN JAIL, BUT I'M STILL KIND OF IGNORANT TO THE SYSTEM. BUT WHEN YOU STARTED TELLING ALL THIS IS FOR YOU, CHIEF WHEN YOU START TELLING THINGS, UM, I'VE HEARD PEOPLE TALK ABOUT WHETHER OR NOT GONNA SNITCH BECAUSE WHEN THEY GO TO COURT, THEIR NAME IS ON THE PAPER. I DON'T KNOW HOW TRUE THAT IS. BUT DO YOU THINK THAT HAS ANYTHING TO DO WITH WHY PEOPLE AREN'T TELLING ABSOLUTELY , MAN. THAT'S THAT'S A FACT. THAT'S A REALITY. UNFORTUNATELY IN ORDER TO HAVE A SUCCESSFUL PROSECUTION, SOMEBODY HAS TO COME FORWARD. SOMEBODY HAS TO TAKE THAT STAND. AND BE WILLING TO SAY ENOUGH IS ENOUGH. SO YES, MA'AM. AND ALSO JUST TO PIGGYBACK ON WHAT YOU SAID ALSO ABOUT THE PHARMACEUTICAL COMPANIES AS WELL, UM, THE GENERAL MANAGER AND OF OUR FACILITY OUT HERE IS ALREADY PARTNERED UP WITH MYSELF, SEAN MILLER OF THE BOYS AND GIRLS CLUB ON HOW THEY CAN HELP US GET A STATE OF THE OFFICE CITY BUILT HERE AND THEY COMMITTED TO HELPING US GET THERE. SO WE STARTED THOSE CONVERSATIONS AND LIKE AND LIKE YOU SAID I WOULD MAKE SURE I KEEP THEM. AT THE TABLE BECAUSE I KNOW THEY DEFINITELY HAVE THE CAPACITY TO HELP US AND THEY WANT TO HELP US HERE AS WELL. OKAY UM, I'D LIKE TO SAY THIS. I'M A PRODUCT OF PETERSBURG. I RECOGNIZE T OVER THERE, AND A LOT OF PEOPLE ARE NOT THAT YOU'RE AT THE TABLE.

UH, NEW? I NEVER I DON'T KNOW YOU'RE NEVER NEVER KNOWN YOU BEFORE. NEVER KNOWN YOU BEFORE, BUT LET ME JUST SHARE SOME WITH YOU. BEING A PRODUCT OF PETERSBURG AND T KNOWS AND THE RIVERS OVER TO SOME OTHER PEOPLE FROM PITTSBURGH. WE WERE A 11, A CITY OF PEOPLE TOGETHER, CITIZENS AND WE HAD CHURCHES TOGETHER. WE HAD A FAMILY TOGETHER, AND THIS IS SOMETHING I'VE GONE WITH ME. I LOOKED AT OUR LIVES. I COME TO THE SCHOOL SYSTEM. NEVER BEEN TO JAIL.

NEVER HAD ANYBODY. MY FAMILY. I'VE BEEN TO JAIL, NOT SAYING THAT'S A GOOD THING OR BAD THING , BUT IT'S SAYING THAT IT CAN HAPPEN FOR YOU, MY DAD. HE TAUGHT US IN CERTAIN THINGS. YOU MAKE IT BEING HARD. YOU'RE LAYING IT. HE HAD TO SAY THAT THAT TOO MANY TIMES BUT I'M LOOKING AT SOME OF THE SITUATION THINGS WE HAD. AND GROWING UP. ACTIVITIES WHEN I WAS IN SCHOOL, I WASN'T AN A PLUS STUDENT. I WAS A CEASE TO, BUT I HAD TO DO MY WORK. PLUS I HAD THINGS TO DO THE IN SCHOOL. IF I DIDN'T DO THOSE THINGS I HAD TO GO INTO A CLASS. THEY'RE GONNA LEARN A TRADE. I WOULD DO SOME WOODWORKING. I'M GONNA DO SOME METAL WORK. I'M GOING TO SOME WEIRD KEEP OURSELVES BUT I KNOW IT'S A NEW GENERATION. NOW WE'VE GOT TO GET INTO THE ELECTRONIC AGE. BUT THOSE TITLES PRODUCTS STILL WORK. WE STILL NEED AN ELECTRICIAN. WITH THEIR NEED PEOPLE THAT WOULD DO THE BUILD HOUSES WE STILL NEEDED. WE CANNOT DEVIATE FROM THAT. WE ALSO POLICEMEN ACHIEVED. WE HAVE A POLICE BOARDS CUT MY GROWING UP DAYS. WE HAVE POLICE BOARDS CLUB. SO IN ENHANCED US TO LEARN THINGS THINGS NOT TOO MANY YEARS AGO, AND MY BROTHER HERE WAS WAS WHEN OUR PROGRAMS WE HAD A FORMER PASTOR WHO PASSED ON THE RECENTLY THEY HAD A PROGRAM WHERE WE WENT TO, JUST LIKE THE LADY WAS SAYING THE KNOCKING ON CHURCHES. AND I ASKED HIM ABOUT HELPING US WITH THIS PROGRAM. WE HAVE THE POLICE DEPARTMENT TO FORMER CHIEFS BEFORE ASKED HIS CHURCH SMALL CHURCH THAT COULD USE YOUR BAND. COULD WE BRING IT UP? PEOPLE ARE STUDENTS IN AND HAVE A PROGRAM SO WE CAN HAVE THEM TO BRING IT COME IN, AND JUST TEACH THEM THINGS. THE POLICE CAME IN. THEY HAD THAT PROGRAM AND THEY'RE SET THOSE KIDS. THEY FED THEM IN THE MORNING. I WAS A PART OF BRINGING THE FOOD IN BEING A PART OF THE CHURCH. THEY USE OUR

[02:10:01]

SO UH, LET THEM COME IN. THERE WAS ROUGH AND SO AT AND WITHIN THAT THIRD WEEK, THEY'RE GONNA DO THE CLASSES. THEY TOOK THE POLICEMAN. THEY PUT THEM ON TRIPS. THEY HAD LITTLE CLASSES WITH HIM ABOUT DIFFERENT THINGS. JUST LIKE YOU DON'T WANT TO DO THAT. YOU YOU HAVE PROBABLY LATE DOING NOW. BUT YOU KNOW THEY HAD CLASSES. THEY TOOK HIM TO KINGS OF MINION, OR THEY TOOK HIM TO BUSH GARDENS. THEY TOOK A PLACE AT SOME KIDS HAD NEVER BEEN OUT OF PETERSBURG. WE NEED MORE OF THOSE KIND OF THINGS AND YOU CAN'T YOU CAN'T PUSH IT ASIDE. AND SO WE DON'T HAVE FUNDING BECAUSE YOU DO HAVE FUN. YOU DO HAVE IT JUST GOT TO PUT IT IN THE RIGHT PLACES. AS ALWAYS SAID, THANK YOU. CHIEF CHRISTIAN SPECIFICALLY WHAT'S BEING DONE ABOUT TRAFFICKING OF GUNS GETTING INTO THE CITY. WHAT CAN BE DONE? IF ANYTHING, UM OR WHAT IS BEING DONE? THAT'S MY QUESTION. SO THE ANSWER TO THAT RIGHT NOW WE HAVE AND HAS BEEN ONGOING PARTNERSHIP . WE'VE BEEN WORKING WITH THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT. F B I D E A T F WHAT WE'VE SEEN IN OUR COMMUNITY. THIS IS SOMETHING SO WE CAN ALL BE AWARE WE'VE SEEN YOUNG LADIES. YOU AND ME AND OUR COMMUNITIES THAT ARE GOING OUT DOING WHAT THEY CALL STRAW PURCHASING. AND PURCHASE A WEAPON BECAUSE THEY HAVE THE CLEAN CRIMINAL RECORD. AND THEN PASS IT DOWN TO THE GUYS THAT WANT TO DO. CRIMINAL MISCHIEF IN OUR CITY. SO BE MINDFUL AND AGAIN, THAT'S ONE OF THE THINGS THAT WE LOOK AT AND LOOKING INTO THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT HAS ASSISTED US IN LOOKING INTO THESE TYPES OF CRIMES AND WE'LL WE'LL AGGRESSIVELY AGGRESSIVELY GOING AFTER THOSE INDIVIDUALS THAT ARE PURCHASING WEAPONS AND PASSING IT ON MY PASSING THEM OFF. TO THOSE WHO SHOULDN'T HAVT CAN WE DO? ABOUT THAT. WHAT CAN WE DO? I CAN. I CAN ADD ONE OTHER THING, TOO, THAT AS FAR AS WHAT CAN WE DO? WE CAN BE RESPONSIBLE WITH OUR WEAPONS. WE'RE NOT TELLING PEOPLE THAT YOU CAN'T OWN OR POSSESS A WEAPON. BUT BE RESPONSIBLE FOR THAT WEAPON. WE HAVE PEOPLE THAT LEAVE WEAPONS AND CARS. BELIEVE PEOPLE THAT LEAVE WEAPONS AND VEHICLES THAT ARE UNLOCKED OR VISIBLE OVERNIGHT AND THOSE WEAPONS ARE BEING STOLEN. AND THEN SHOWING UP IN THE HANDS OF THOSE THAT ARE COMMITTING CRIMES IN OUR CITIES. WE HAVE THIS GENTLEMAN RIGHT HERE AND THEN MISS TALIAFERRO. I'M SORRY, MA'AM. I'LL SEE YOU WHEN WE'RE TRYING TO GET TO EVERYBODY. BUT I'M TRYING TO GET THE PEOPLE WHO ALSO HAVEN'T SPOKEN YET. CAN I JUST MAKE SOME CONTROVERSIAL COMMENTS AND THOSE CONTROVERSIAL COMMENTS LIVE ROUND? UH NOT ONLY WORK, WE NEED THE CITY TO HELP.

BUT AS I SPOKE WITH THE MAYOR AS I SPEAK WITH CHIEF CHRISTIAN THERE ARE PEOPLE OUT HERE WHO WANT TO HELP. AND I SAID SATURDAY TO MAYOR PERM AS A SMALL BUSINESS OWNER. I WANT TO COME BACK TO MY CITY, SO LET LET ME BE TOTALLY CLEAR WITH EVERYONE. I KNOW A LOT OF PEOPLE MAY KNOW ME. I NO LONGER LIVE IN PETERSBURG. BUT YET MANY OF THE PROGRAMS THAT YOU HEARD TALKED ABOUT THE DAY I'M PARTICIPATORY IN PARTICIPATE PARTICIPATE IN THE PETERSBURG CITY PUBLIC SCHOOLS BEING ON A MISSION PROGRAM. THE PRINCIPLE OF PETERSBURG HIGH SCHOOL WILL TELL YOU THAT I'M THERE ONE DAY A WEEK. EVERY WEEK. I MADE A COMMITMENT. TO COME FROM HIM.

RAJKOT, VIRGINIA. TO PETERSBURG HIGH SCHOOL ONE DAY A WEEK EVERY DAY A WEEK. BROTHER WESLEY KNOWS ANYTHING HE NEEDS ME TO DO. I'M GONNA DO WHAT HE NEEDS ME TO DO. BROTHERS. SHALL HE SHOULD BASQUE BAR MOHAMMED. THEY KNOW ANYTHING THEY NEED ME TO DO. I'M THERE FOR THEM NOW. I THINK WE HAVE THE BIGGER BUSINESSES THAT CAN DO STUFF FOR THE CIA. PETERSBURG BUT I CAN DO STUFF FOR THE CITY OF PETERSBURG. WE SPONSORED A U BASKETBALL TEAM WITH PARKS AND REC WE JUST SPONSORED ON SATURDAY. THE YOUTH BASEBALL TEAM SO SOMETIMES THOSE OF US WHO UNDERSTAND THE CHALLENGES PRESENTED PRESENTED TO THE CITY OF PETERSBURG. WE OURSELVES HAVE TO IDENTIFY POSSIBLE SOLUTIONS.

[02:15:06]

I'M HERE TO WORK WITH PARKS AND REC. I'M HERE TO WORK WITH THE MAYOR. I'M HERE TO WORK WITH WHOEVER SAYS BRUCE RICHARDSON. IF YOU GOT A MINUTE, CAN YOU COME DOWN HERE AND TALK TO SOMEBODY? IF I CAN LEND WE HAVE FOR FOUR CONSECUTIVE YEARS WE HAVE SPONSORED. AT THE GOVERNOR'S SCHOOL FOR CHILD TO GO TO THE PROM. WE THESE ARE THINGS THAT WE AS REST RESIDENTS OR EVEN PEOPLE WHO DON'T LIVE IN THE CITY CAN DO BECAUSE OF OUR KINSHIP. LEAVE Y'ALL WITH TWO COMMENTS THAT I DO THINK IT'S IMPORTANT FOR THOSE AT THE TABLE. WE MUST HAVE A PROGRAM LIKE THE NATIONAL YOUTH SPORTS PROGRAM THAT PRO THOSE PROGRAMS WHEN SATAN WHEN MISS SHEBA MILES WAS THAT VIRGINIA AVENUE ELEMENTARY SCHOOL AND USED TO FEED ME TWICE A DAY. THOSE PROGRAMS HELPED ME GET TO WHERE I AM TODAY. I'M NOT SAYING I'M NO BIGWIG, BUT I'M TELLING YOU ONE THING, AND I LEARNED I LOVE THIS CITY SO MUCH THAT I'VE LEARNED FROM THOSE EXPERIENCES.

MR GERARD OVER THERE HAS KNOWN ME SINCE I WAS A CHILD. THERE'S A LOT OF PEOPLE KENNETT, PRITCHARD AND I WINTER UPWARD BOUND TOGETHER. THERE ARE A LOT OF PEOPLE IN THIS IN THIS ROOM THAT I HAVE A KINSHIP WITH. BUT ONE OF THE THINGS WE CAN NEVER FORGET. I GOT THIS BROTHER RIGHT HERE, LAFAYETTE. WE HAVE A KILLER SHOOT. BUT THE ONE THING WE CAN NEVER FORGET WHERE THESE KIDS SIT TODAY. MANY OF THESE PEOPLE IN THIS ROOM WE WERE ONCE THEM. WE WERE ONCE THE STUFF THAT WESLEY DID THAT WE AIN'T GONNA TALK ABOUT IN THIS CLASS FOR WESLEY WILL TELL YOU WHAT HE DID WE DID THAT STUFF. AND WE WANT TO SAY TODAY WITH THE CHALLENGES THAT OUR YOUNG FOLKS HAVE. WE WANT TO PUT THEM IN THIS BOX THAT YOU SHOULD BE DOING. BETTER TALK TO THEM FIRST. TALK TO THEM FIRST AND FIND OUT WHAT'S GOING ON. BECAUSE MR GERARD WILL PROBABLY TELL ME WHEN HE LIVED ACROSS FROM ME. HE PROBABLY SAID, OH, THAT BOARD ALWAYS GETTING IN TROUBLE. BUT AT THE END OF THE DAY, LOOK WHAT I BECAME. IN THAT'S IMPORTANT, IT'S IMPORTANT THAT WE HAVE SOME TYPE OF KINSHIP WITH OUR YOUNG FOLK. YOU KNOW, WE SHOULDN'T SAY, OH, HE ACTING UP AND I AIN'T GONNA GO AND DO SOMETHING WE SHOULD RUN TO HIM. WE SHOULD GIVE HIM A PAM . WE SHOULD GIVE HIM A HUG. AND WHEN YOU TALK, I WILL TELL YOU MISS FIELDS. YOU DON'T KNOW WHAT YOU DO WHEN I COME UP THERE AND I MEET WITH YOUR KIDS LIKE I DID LAST TUESDAY. THE FEELING I HAVE WHEN I LEAVE PETERSBURG HIGH SCHOOL IS SPECIAL. IT TRULY HELPS MY DAY. SO I HAVE A CHALLENGE DAY I GOT HERE LATE BECAUSE I HAD ISSUES WITH ONE OF MY DEALS TODAY, BUT THE FACT THAT I CAN COME TO YOUR SCHOOL AND YOU DO IT. YOU GUYS OPEN THE DOOR AND LET ME MEET WITH THEM GROUP OF YOUNG PEOPLE DOING THE LUNCH BLOCKS. THAT'S STUFF THAT ANY OF US CAN DO. IF I'M COMING FROM HIM, REICHEL TO DO IT. AND YOU AND PETERSBURG NO, YOU CAN DO IT. DRIVE 40 MINUTES TO DO IT , SO I KNOW YOU CAN DO IT WHEN I WAS WITH SAM ON SATURDAY AT THE BASEBALL FIELD JUST TO SEE THEM YOUNG KIDS AND HOW HAPPY THEY WERE. THEY DON'T REALIZE WHEN I WENT HOME AND TOLD MY WIFE HOW IMPORTANT IT MADE ME FEEL TO SEE MY NAME ON THE BACK OF THEIR BASEBALL UNIFORMS GROWING UP ON THE HEIGHTS. I NEVER WOULD HAVE THOUGHT I WOULD BE ON SOMEBODY'S UNIFORM. SO LET'S GIVE GOD THE

[02:20:05]

WE HAVE PEOPLE WHO IF YOU ASK THEM THEY WILL GIVE IF YOU TELL THEM WHAT THEY NEED IN ORDER TO GET THAT POOL OPEN, THEN WE WILL GET IT OPEN. BUT IF WE SIT BACK AND WE DON'T LET THEM KNOW, THEN WE WILL HAVE ANOTHER YEAR OF OUR KIDS SITTING IN THE HOT HOUSE AND THEN FINDING SOMETHING NEGATIVE TO DO OR NOT DOING ANYTHING. SO WE NEED TO FIND OUT WHAT IT IS TO GET PROMISED STREET, THE ONLY POOL IN PETERSBURG AND MAYBE LOOK TOWARDS FINDING A WAY TO OPEN ANOTHER POOL. AND PETERSBURG AND INTRODUCE OUR KIDS TO MORE THEY CAN LEARN HOW TO SWIM. THEY CAN BE ON SWIM, WE CAN HAVE SWIM TEAM. YOU KNOW MY DAUGHTER MY GRANDDAUGHTER SWIM FOR THE WIFE.

AND IT WAS ONE OF THE MOST OUTSTANDING AND FASCINATING THING TO GO AND SEE THEM COMPETE . BUT IT WAS JUST A FEW OF US OUT THERE AND IT WAS AMAZING. AND I KIDS CAN DO THAT. BUT WE HAVE TO GIVE THEM THAT EXPERIENCE. SO I'M HOPING THAT WE WILL BE ABLE TO OPEN THE FARMERS STREET POOL THIS SUMMER . MY CASE, SO THE ANSWER TO YOUR QUESTION IS YES. UM IT'S BEEN A LONG PROCESS. YOU KNOW A LOT DUE TO COVID. A LOT OF YOUR CONSTRUCTION COMPANIES ARE EXTREMELY BEHIND AND BUSY. HOWEVER I WILL SAY THIS JUNE, 6TH WILL START THE RECONSTRUCTION AND IT SHOULD TAKE ABOUT TWO WEEKS, JUST DEPENDING ON THE WEATHER. AND THE SECOND PART OF YOUR QUESTION . UM I DO AGREE WITH YOU NON TRADITIONAL SPORTS, UM, SHOULD BE OFFERED, SO WE STARTED SOCCER. UM THAT'S THAT STARTS JUNE THE FOURTH, BUT WE NEED TO LOOK AT SOME OTHER THINGS AS WELL TO EXPOSE OUR YOUTH TO THESE THINGS, BUT, UM, TO ANSWER YOUR QUESTION BACK TO FARMER STREET POOL, UM THAT WOULD BE CONSTRUCTION WILL START JUNE 6TH AND MAYBE WE CAN EVENTUALLY LOOK AT A SPLASH PAD OR SOMETHING LIKE THAT, UM, THAT WE CAN USE THAT A LITTLE BIT EASIER TO MAINTAIN. SO WE'RE LOOKING AT THAT AS WELL. HEY, HOW YOU DOING? YEAH SCHOOL PROGRAMS IS COOL, AND, UH, SPORTS AND ALL THAT, BUT WHEN WE'RE GOING TO ADDRESS THE REAL SCHOOL ACADEMICS LIKE WE'RE GOING TO TEACH THE KIDS. THE REAL STUFF ARE REAL HISTORY AND REAL CULTURE. INSTEAD OF THE SAME STUFF THAT GOT THE BOND. YOU KNOW, I MEAN, WE GOT A HISTORIAN RIGHT HERE. PUTTING YOUR BLACK HISTORIANS BUT YOU WON'T HIRE THEM. YOU KNOW WHAT I MEAN? SO WE'RE GOING TO DO ABOUT DARREN. TO WANT TO TAKE THAT ONE. LIKE, WHAT DO YOU DO? AND SO NO NO ANSWERS FOR THE EDUCATION. I KNOW WE DO OFFER AFRICAN AMERICAN HISTORY. MISS BELL. YOU WANT TO YOU TAKE IT, OKAY? CERTAINLY IN ANY SCHOOL DISTRICT ACROSS THE STATE IN THE COUNTRY . WE ALWAYS HAVE A CERTAIN CRITERIA AND CURRICULUM THAT WE HAVE TO TEACH. HOWEVER YOU'RE CORRECT. WE HAVE VERNON GIANT MIDDLE SCHOOL AND SO PART OF THAT HISTORY NEEDS TO BE EVEN EVERY YEAR. UH THE ONGOING BASIS RIGHT IN THEIR SCHOOL. THAT'S WHERE HISTORY IS IN THE MAKING. SO OF COURSE, THERE ARE FOLKS THAT ARE LOOKING AT DOING ADDITIONAL CURRICULUM FOR STUDENTS. UM, WE DO HAVE TO TEACH THE CURRICULUM THAT BUT AS STUDENTS HAVE TO PASS TESTS ON ETCETERA, BUT WE TRULY AGREE THAT WE NEED TO KEEP MAKING SURE THAT WE'RE AWARE THAT'S A GREAT AFTER SCHOOL ACTIVITY FOR KIDS AS WELL. NOT THAT IT SHOULDN'T BE TAUGHT DURING THE DAY. BUT WE NEED TO HAVE EVERY OPPORTUNITY. SO IF YOU KNOW PERSONS THAT HAVE THAT GIFT AND HAVE THAT SCALE AND HAVE THAT TIME, PLEASE BRING HIM MY WAY. THAT'S WE NEED TO CONTINUE TO OFFER AS MANY OPPORTUNITIES TO LEARN AS POSSIBLE AND OUR DOORS ARE OPEN.

CAN WE MAKE IT DURING THE DAY INSTEAD OF AT THE SCHOOL? I WOULDN'T EVEN KNOW LIKE WHO WE REALLY ARE. I MEAN, WHAT'S WRONG WITH ROUNDED THAT SCHICCHI? IF THERE ARE CHILDREN? I MEAN, SUSAN, SUSAN THOMASES. COOL BUT WHAT'S WRONG WITH OUR KIDS WEARING DASHIKI LEARNING DIFFERENT COACHES? OUR COACHING AND I THINK THAT WHOLE ACROSS THE CURRICULUM AND SOMETHING THAT'S NOT JUST IN A SOCIAL STUDIES. WE HAVE BOOKS THAT WE'RE INCREASING OUR ETHNIC BOOKS SO THAT ALL OF OUR STUDENTS CAN SEE THEMSELVES UNDERSTAND THEMSELVES, LEARN ABOUT THEMSELVES AND ALL RACES AND CULTURES, AND THAT'S VERY IMPORTANT TOO. SO WE HAVE TO

[02:25:03]

HOWEVER THERE IS STILL IN THAT FORENSICS. SO THAT DEBATE WE WANT PEOPLE WHO CAN STILL BRING ADDITIONAL THINGS TO THE TABLE BECAUSE IT'S A LOT OF THAT. THAT'S NEEDED TO RESPECT. BUT WHAT ABOUT OUR HISTORY? AGRICULTURE? WE DO THAT? WE JUST SHARED THAT ON THAT GATHERS AFRICAN AMERICAN HISTORY CLASSES AS WELL AS AGAIN. THERE'S NOTHING REASON NO REASON WHY WE'RE NOT TALKING ABOUT SOME OF THOSE TOPICS BECAUSE THERE'S PETERSBURG IS A RICH CULTURE IN ITSELF. AND WE HAVE LOTS OF OUR TEACHERS AND ADMINISTRATORS WHO HAVE BEEN HERE. THEY UNDERSTAND EVEN PETERSBURG AND NOT JUST PETERSBURG BUT OUR CULTURE AS WELL. SO WE JUST HAVE TO BE CAREFUL ABOUT HOW WE DO EVERYTHING. AND I'M JUST BEING HONEST. SO A LOT OF WHAT WE LIKE TO DO. WE HAVE TO ALSO FOLLOW GUIDELINES WHEN IT COMES TO CURRICULUM, BUT WE TRY TO MAKE SURE WE HAVE THAT BALANCE SO THAT OUR KIDS KNOW AND THEY WANT TO KNOW AND WE DO TALK WITH THEM. THANK YOU. MR BAIL AT THIS TIME IS 8 27 3 MINUTES WE WILL STOP AT 8 30. THIS IS OUR LAST ONE LAST ONE. I WANT TO SAY THANK YOU FOR DOING THIS, AND I KNOW IT'S HARD TO COME IN HERE AND GET BEAT UP. MY NAME IS EBONY LEE JOE WAS BORN AND RAISED IN PETERSBURG. FIRST TIME I LIVED IN PETERSBURG AND A WOW. I HAVE A CONCERN ABOUT THE ECONOMICS. BECAUSE OF THE JOB SITUATION. A LOT OF THESE KIDS. THE TRAUMA IS AT HOME, BUT IT'S A SITUATION WITH WE NEED GROCERY STORES THAT WOULD CREATE JOBS. WE NEED JOBS. I'M THANKFUL FOR THE PHARMACEUTICAL JOBS THAT ARE COMING IN, BUT WE NEED TO BE ABLE TO MAKE SURE THAT INFORMATION IS OUT THERE AND PEOPLE ARE GETTING IT. ONCE AGAIN I KNOW Y'ALL FEEL LIKE Y'ALL COMING HERE. Y'ALL GET BEAT UP ON YOU GOT A HISTORY OF PEOPLE BEING FRUSTRATED WITH THEM BEING FRUSTRATED? THAT'S WHERE IT COMES IN. BUT IF YOU HAVE MORE OF THESE MEETINGS, YOU HAVE A BETTER OUTCOME, AND WE GOT TO REACH OUT TO EACH OTHER. THAT SOCIAL MEDIA THING IS REALLY CRAZY. UM, THE PARENTS DON'T KNOW WHAT YOU'RE DOING IS THAT I TAKE MY HAT OFF THE ANYBODY THAT WORKS IN THE SCHOOL . I TAKE MY HEAD OFF THE END ABOUT HIS FEEDING THE CHARITY BECAUSE IF I HAD TO FEED MINE RIGHT NOW, WITH THE WAY GROCERIES UP I WILL BE HURT. ENCOURAGE YOUR KIDS TO DO THINGS THAT ARE OUTSIDE OF THE NORM ENCOURAGED MAN, AND SHE'S THRIVING AND DOING WONDERFUL THINGS. PARTNER LEAN ON THAT PERSON AND SAY HEY, THEY'RE GOOD . THEY KICKING THAT BALL. LET ME TAKE THEM TO SOCCER. COME OVER HERE AND EAT DINNER. MY KIDS GETTING MATH. LET THEM TEACH YOUR KID IN MATH. MY CHILD LIKE HISTORY, TEACHER CHILD HISTORY. WE GOTTA DO BETTER, BUT I JUST WANTED TO TELL YOU, THANK YOU. AND I KNOW IT SEEMS LIKE YEAH, COMING. HE GOTTA GET BEAT UP ON BUT MORE OF THIS WILL HELP BUILD THAT TRUST IN THE YAKA. HOPEFULLY WE CAN GET THIS THING TURNED AROUND TOGETHER. THANK YOU. YES AND IT BACK OVER TO MAYOR PARENTS TO SUM IT UP.

THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR THAT HAPPENING BECAUSE THAT'S WHY WE ALL ARE HERE BECAUSE WE CAN'T DO THIS WITHOUT THE SUPPORT OF EACH AND EVERY ONE OF YOU ALL INSIDE THIS ROOM, OKAY, BECAUSE WE HAVE THINGS THAT'S LINED UP IN. ONE OF THE BIGGEST ISSUES THAT WE HAVE IN PETERSBURG IS THAT WE HAVE SO MANY SILOS. IN WHICH EVERYONE IS WORKING IN THEIR SILO. SO JUST HAVING THESE CONVERSATIONS LIKE THIS TO BE ABLE TO HELP PEOPLE FIND OUT WHERE THEY CAN GET RESOURCES AT AND WHAT'S AVAILABLE AND WHAT'S NOT AND WHAT WE'RE DOING AS A COMMUNITY TO MOVE FORWARD.

DISAPPOINTED BECAUSE REGARDLESS OF WHAT HAPPENS, GUESS WHAT? WE'RE GONNA KEEP GRINDING BECAUSE CITY AND WHATEVER YOU SAY I'M PROUD OF PETERSBURG BECAUSE PETERSBURG HAS BEEN GOOD TO US. AND WE GONNA FIGHT. WE'RE GONNA SCRATCH . WE'RE GONNA CLAW. WE'RE NOT GONNA LET GUN VIOLENCE, TAKE OUR CITY OR AND WE'RE NOT GOING TO BE DEFINED BY GUN VIOLENCE AND WE'RE NOT GONNA LOSE OUR YOUTH IN THIS SO THANK EVERYONE FOR COMING OUT. AND IF EVERYONE IF ANYONE HAS ANY MORE QUESTIONS, WE'LL BE AROUND. I KNOW PEOPLE HAVE TO GO BECAUSE LIBRARIES CLOSING DOWN BUT CONTINUE TO TALK. WHAT WE'RE GONNA WORK WITH WESTERN. WE'RE GONNA WORK WITH THE CHURCHES, THE BOYS AND GIRLS CLUB PARKS AND RECS. AND I'M ANOTHER PARTY. THAT'S HERE IS THE Y M C. A AS WELL. WE'RE WORKING WITH THEM IN ORDER TO OPEN UP THEIR DOORS. THEY HAVE OUR KIDS TO ACCESS TO THE POOL AND WORE AFTER SCHOOL ACTIVITIES AND WEEKEND ACTIVITIES AGAIN.

THANK YOU ALL FOR COMING AND WE WILL KEEP THIS CONVERSATION GOING APPRECIATE IT.

* This transcript was compiled from uncorrected Closed Captioning.