I Want to Live and Not Die, The Streets Coming Together

By J.J. McQueen
Special to the AFRO

Before sunrise of the new year, Baltimore City recorded its first homicide; a cover story familiar to many families across the city. However, it’s a story that does not define the potential of communities who are in rebuild mode. Much like anything else in life worth saving, rebuilding requires investors to provide vision, resources, support and most of all, be present.

It’s a philosophy that the non-profit We Our Us has made known to everyone who comes into contact with them. Despite the challenges of navigating COVID and frigid winter weather, the organization has been relentless in its efforts to invest Baltimore community repair, while loving it back to optimum health.

With the theme of ‘I Want to Live and Not Die’, We Our Us and its community partners spent the weekend providing food, clothing, on the spot rehabilitative support, real-time job placement and more. Unlike most other community-based programs, the organization also possesses another unique resource; their own “stop the beef” hotline. It’s a law enforcement free, toll-free number for anyone in need of mediation services between opposing individuals.

Baltimore City has droves of grassroots establishments, but few of them have the wingspan We Our Us team has quickly developed.

President Corey Barnes said, “We believe that the more people who have clothing, food, and the necessary things that they need, the less we’ll have people out on the street, and the less violence we’ll have.”

Spokesperson Pastor Antoine Burton said, “We’re trying to do what we can do to help change the culture in Northwest Baltimore. We have to make sure that the presence of love and care matches the resources that we provide.”

Coming off of a record year of violence, We Our Us hasn’t failed to address the hardest hit population of the city’s homicide victims; its youth. They’ve created a male mentorship program, one that focuses on conflict resolution, academics, and trade attentive programs for those who prefer to join the workforce immediately following training. 

For those looking for looking for ‘Stopping the Beef’ intervention assistance, We Our Us encourages you to contact them via phone or text at, 443-431-3705 or 443-522-7848.

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