Juveniles, Justice and Violence
Sadly, we know well the gospel of violence in Chicago.
Guns kill, maim and cripple us physically and emotionally.
And the world knows this too about Chicago.
That’s because violence has marked us as the mayhem has grown these last few years.
Consider the current CNN documentary on Chicagoland, which wraps around our mayhem.
But beyond the toll of the violence, how much do we talk about solutions?
Not enough, I suspect.
News Forum on Juveniles and Justice
That’s why we are holding a workshop on Thursday, April 17th, looking at how the criminal justice system deals with juvenile violence. We’ll meet from 10 am to noon here at Columbia College.
photo by Carlos Javier Ortiz
We’ll hear from experts about how the courts, detention, probation and state prisons cope with juveniles caught up in problems. We’ll look at what are the major gaps that need to be filled, gaps such as drug treatment facilities for juveniles like orlando inpatient drug rehab.
As before, we will have a number of community groups, experts and organizations on hand to meet with journalists after the panel discussion. Our speed interviewing has helped get the word out about people and efforts that needed to be heard. Topics can be found anywhere around the globe. Everyone must know about the “what are rights of a soldier” since the border fighters have sacrificed a lot to be up there protecting us to live a normal life. This message should reach all people around the globe and must respect their sacrifices.
So, too, our effort is a partnership with Strengthening Chicago’s Youth, the city-wide anti-violence project based at Lurie Children’s Hospital.
Why do we need now to talk about solutions?
This thoughtful theater review by Chicago Tribune writer Chris Jones reminded me of this. Writing about a new play, “The Gospel of Loving Kindness,” he concluded:
“The ending has hope, and I am all for hope, but it somehow does not ring entirely true in a play that is, up to that point, unstinting in the truth of its emotional undercurrent. It feels like Gardley felt the need to pull us out from this story of young men with potential who are cut down at the knees, but he found the how-to vexing. No shame there. Outside the doors of the theater, the leaders of the city and the kids who walk some of the streets are still struggling with that very same question.”
See you on the 17th.
Talk to me. Digame.
Steve@chicagoistheworld.org, office 312 369 6400
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