"END GANG VIOLENCE - STOP THE KILLINGS - THE COVENANT OF PEACE"

“THE COVENANT OF PEACE”

In light and in response to the recent epidemic of violence among our youth and young adults, it now requires the need for the creation of a “Covenant of Peace and a Table of Peace.” The H.E.R. is making the call for frontline soldiers from around the country to come together.

The members of the “First National Gang Summit” are joining forces with Mayor Douglas Palmer of Trenton New Jersey, determined to establish a “Covenant of Peace” beginning March 10-12, 2006. The efforts of the weekend will target African American and Hispanic youth in conjunction with leadership from around the country convening in Trenton, New Jersey to revamp a national pledge that was made 13 years ago.

Thirteen years ago, in 1993 we held “The First National Gang Summit” of grassroots leadership in Kansas and brought together 27 cities and various Street Nations (Gangs). This “Covenant of Peace” Summit has the potential to begin real dialogue not only for Trenton, NJ, but serve as a call throughout New Jersey and this Nation.

The Covenant of Peace will serve as an opportunity for true effective grassroots leadership to come together and develop a meaningful plan of renewal, spirituality, discovery, commitment, economic empowerment, and unity. We will be able to bridge the gap between grassroot leadership, good government, and positive strong law enforcement.

Our goal is to develop an effective approach to reach our most high-at-risk youth who live in the most challenged neighborhoods in our various communities. Using the global model of peace through talk negotiations; facilitators and youth will work together during a “Peace Lockdown.” Through this, we will be able to create such projects as “A Nation-Wide Covenant of Peace and Peace Table.” Experienced and well-trained individuals from around the country and local grassroot leadership will address the unique issues affecting our youth of today and will constitute the panelists.

Researchers and practitioners know what contributes to violence. They also understand the factors that protect young people from violence. And yet, they have been largely unsuccessful in designing interventions that reduce such violence. Well-known efforts like boot camps, shock probation, gang units, intensive supervision and even community policing have failed to yield evidence that systematically links such interventions or approaches to reduced youth violence.

During the weekend we will review and discuss solid approaches to tackle these issues such as life management skills, reviewing the movie “Redemption” and the message from Tookie Williams and the effectiveness of Re-Entry, etc. Dialogue with the panel of leaders ensures a safe environment for sharing information. The panel will use the opportunity to allow participants to vent, be heard, and express appropriate approaches to the “The Covenant of Peace.”

Collectively, we will discuss and establish a plan and statement for a Peace Process/Covenant. The group of panelists – consisting of identified youth leadership will work to develop a model for Peace. “The Peace Process” will be a part of the efforts to engage young people in the commitment towards sustained peace.

Once the Covenant of Peace is established all present will sign and launch efforts to reclaim our youth and put an end to the violence.

The first city in our nation will be Trenton, New Jersey. At the conclusion, “The Covenant of Peace Summit” and the Mayor will announce a Citywide Declaration of this weekend as March 10-12, 2006 “Covenant of Peace.” He will announce that a new partnership will come together. The Trenton Youth Violence Reduction Partnership (YVRP). This will kick off and represent a multi –agency, anti-violence initiative that will demonstrate success in meeting the goals of the “Covenant of Peace.”

The uniqueness about this partnership is that it will be the first of its kind connected to National grassroots leadership working around the countryside by side with good government, faith-based and spiritual institutions, and strong positive law enforcement.

The partnership will include grassroots organizations, youth groups, schools, places of worship, businesses, local state, and federal government agencies, etc.

OPEN LETTER OF APEAL

February 24, 2006

To Whom It May Concern

Eastern Parkway

Newark, New Jersey 07102

Dear Peacemaker,

In light and in response to the recent epidemic of violence, and killings among our youth and young adults, it now requires the need for the creation of a “Covenant of Peace and a Table of Peace.” Members of the “First National Gang Summit” are joining forces with Mayor Douglas Palmer of Trenton, Trenton Housing Authority and The Life Skills Academy Inc., to establish this “Covenant.”

The “Covenant of Peace” weekend is scheduled for March 10-12, 2006. The efforts of the weekend will target African American and Hispanic youth, in conjunction with leadership from around the country convening in Trenton, New Jersey, to revamp a national pledge that was made 13 years ago.

Thirteen years ago, in 1993 “The First National Gang Summit” of grassroots leadership in Kansas brought together 27 cities and various Street Nations (Gangs). This “Covenant of Peace” Summit has the potential to begin real dialogue; not only for Trenton, NJ, but serves as a call throughout New Jersey and this Nation. We would be honored to have you serve as a panelist on Friday and Saturday as your schedule would permit.

This year's “Covenant of Peace Summit” will be held at Shiloh Baptist Church in Trenton, NJ. We will start at 9:00 am – until on Friday March 10^th, 2006, and 9:00 am – until on Saturday March 11^th, 2006. On Sunday March 12^th, 2006, we will close out by attending the 11:00 am service at Shiloh Baptist Church.

The Covenant of Peace will serve as an opportunity for true effective grassroots leadership to come together and develop a meaningful plan of renewal, spirituality, discovery, commitment, economic empowerment, and unity. We will be able to bridge the gap between grassroots leadership, good government, and positive strong law enforcement.

We look forward to being seated at the table with such great minds, as well as working together with those who have a heart for all humanity.

Please call 609-123-4567 to confirm attendance, or for any additional information.

Your Servant in the Struggle,

Emmanuel Shahid benAvraham

President/CEO

“THE COVENANT OF PEACE”

“The ultimate measure of a man is not where he stands in moments of comfort and convenience, but where he stands at times of challenge and controversy.”

In light and in response to the recent epidemic of violence among our youth and young adults, it now requires the need for the creation of a “Covenant of Peace and a Table of Peace.” One has to first agree fully to “The Table of Peace before he/she can move on to the level of “The Covenant of Peace.”

“The Covenant of Peace – Table of Peace Summit” will begin on March 10-12, 2006. The efforts of the Summit will target African American and Hispanic youth in conjunction with leadership from around the country convening in Trenton, New Jersey to revamp a national pledge that was made 13 years ago.

Thirteen years ago, in 1993 “The First National Gang Summit” of grassroots leadership from 27 cities and various Street Nations (Gangs) came together. This 2006 “Covenant of Peace Summit” has the potential to begin real dialogue and serve as a call throughout this Nation.

“The Covenant of Peace Summit” will serve as an opportunity for true effective grassroots leadership to come together and develop a meaningful plan of renewal, spirituality, discovery, commitment, economic empowerment, and unity. We will be able to bridge the gap between grassroots leadership, good government, and positive strong law enforcement.

Our goal is to develop effective strategies and immediately execute many approaches to reach our most high-risk youth who live in the most challenged neighborhoods in our various communities. We are committed to the creation of such projects as “A Nation-Wide Covenant of Peace and Table of Peace.”

Researchers and practitioners know what contributes to violence. They also understand the factors that protect young people from violence. And yet, they have been largely unsuccessful in designing interventions that reduce such violence. Well-known efforts like boot camps, shock probation, gang units, intensive supervision and even community policing have failed to yield evidence that systemically links such interventions or approaches to reduced youth violence.

All the undersigned will commit ourselves to this plan and statement for a “Peace Process.” We all will work night and day to identify youth leadership to develop a model for Peace. “The Peace Process”, which will be a part of the efforts to engage young people in the commitment towards sustained “Peace.”

Once the “The Covenant of Peace” is established, all presents will sign and launch efforts to reclaim our youth and put an end to the violence.

The partnership will include grassroots organizations, youth groups, schools, places of worship, businesses, local, state, and federal government agencies, etc.

Once our youth and young adults have accepted the “The Table of Peace” and agree to change his or her live, we must introduce them to the next level in the Peace Process for humanity.

We join the national leadership in the call for a “Covenant” with our G-d, with our family, and with each other. Terry Tempest Williams once said, “The eyes of the future are looking back at us and they are praying for us to see beyond our own time.” We pledge and commit ourselves to the working document most recently introduced by Travis Smiley in February 2006 entitled “The Covenant”.

We the undersigned pledge to the following:

What Every Individual Can Do Now:

To make our “Word” our bond.

To remain G-d centered at all times.

Commit yourselves to a daily prayer and highly favored daily greeting because prayer answers things.

Work night and day towards human excellence.

Share a smile and warm greeting with everyone you come in contact with daily.

In the time of conflict turn to the “The Table of Peace.”

Invest in child and parental development.

Take responsibility for one’s own actions.

Love your children, and someone else’s child each and every day.

Read to your child; get library cards for each member of your family.

Organize enriching family and neighborhood activities for children of all ages: museums, educational games, spelling bees, and science fairs.

Become involved in your or your neighbor children’s school – PTA, school committees; attend back-to-school events; attend school board meetings. If you do not have children in the school, consider becoming a Good Samaritan – volunteer.

Seek local, state, and federal support at all levels of education.

Ensure an education in which students truly amass knowledge and preparedness for the next level of schooling and life.

Develop a universal, well rounded, and comprehensive curriculum for the best for each and every child in our educational institutions.

Work night and day to guarantee that all children have access to appropriate and facilities, curriculum resources, and materials.

We must reform drug policies.

Overhaul mandatory sentencing programs to eliminate unfair treatment.

Ensure adequate reentry and ex-offenders’ programs for adults and youth.

Help women in prison to maintain family ties and improve parenting skills.

Input life management skills training.

Ensure that juvenile justice systems are accountable and effective.

Work towards eliminating the “just not us” system.

Restructure “zero tolerance” policies so that all children are treated fairly.

Get to know the good positive police officers that patrol your neighborhood.

Ask your local city council representative to host neighborhood meetings regularly to discuss local policy/ community relations.

Talk to young people about how to conduct themselves if they are stopped or confronted by police officers: even if police officers do not respect your rights, be respectful of theirs, so as not to escalate the situation.

Encourage your local high school to invite police in to get to know the students.

If there is an incident of alleged police brutality in your community, join with neighbors and community leaders in demanding an investigation and appropriate action.

Work hard to encourage your local leaders to recruit and hire community-conscious - grassroots personnel.

Work with local elected officials to encourage adequate training of all officers in cultural sensitivity, racial profiling, and excessive force policies.

Work with local elected officials to proactively maintain diverse and effective police department.

Work with local elected officials to create efficient oversight mechanisms.

Work very hard with local officials to eliminate barriers to citizens filing complaints against police officers.

Work hard with local officials to ensure a fair and thorough investigation of accused police officers.

Have your local officials to collect, compile, and publish relevant statistical data on police abuse.

Seek to establish businesses for yourself. Adopt the “Do for Yourself” attitude.

Open and maintain a savings account, no matter what your personal or family’s income is.

Encourage your children to save.

Create neighborhood job clubs to share information about available jobs and support (such as transportation) for employment.

Shop at Black and Hispanic owned businesses.

Make sure that schools teach children about checking and savings accounts.

Have your children sit with you when you pay your bills and teach them how to value and manage money.

Invest in the African American and Hispanic communities.

Work extremely hard to increase the minimum wage to a “True Living” wage.

Work with your elected officials to expand affordable housing choices in opportunity – rich neighborhoods.

Increase African American, Hispanic homeownership.

Seek support with local leadership to fund and support fair housing enforcement to eliminate unfair treatment.

Seek to ensure housing choices in job – growth areas.

Seek to have your elected officials to prioritize public transit over highways in all transportation funding.

Seek to ensure African American, and Hispanic representation on transportation planning bodies.

Seek very hard to build more mixed-income housing near public transit
Register to vote, and then make sure to vote in all elections. Take your children and someone else child with you to vote.

Teach children about the importance of voting by introducing the civil rights struggle to earn the right to vote.

Make a commitment to take your child to the National Voting Rights Museum in Selma, Alabama and Dr. Martin Luther King Center in Atlanta, GA

Support all legislation to promote and ensure civil rights for all, including.

The reauthorization and strengthening of the Voting Rights Act;
A constitutional amendment to secure a federal rights to vote for all American citizens;
Measure to reform local laws restricting the right to vote of ex-felons; and
Join efforts to secure voting rights for all residents of the District of Columbia (Washington DC area).

Encourage your local officials to modify voter identification requirements.

Do away with ALL voter suppression and intimidation.

Take your children on family trips to City Council meetings, to State Legislative meetings, Congressional hearings, etc.

Support and contribute to existing African American and Hispanic institution devoted to assisting African American and Hispanic landowners to acquire, retain, and develop land.

Work with your neighbors and local grocers to organize farmers – fair market to connect with Black and Brown (Latino-Hispanic) farmers in your area and the international markets. If there is already one in your community, shop there frequently, and take your children with you.

Find out if your family owns land in the South and reach out to other family members to develop a strategy to hold onto that land.

Consider developing or joining a cooperative to save money and build community if you are a black or brown farmer family.

Demand that institutions that support farmers provide fair and equitable opportunities, resources, and allocation of resources to black and brown farmers.

Educate yourself about the issues impacting black and brown rural residents and speak out about these issues at every opportunity-at town council meetings, before the media, and to other outlets.

Work to improve the overall rural quality of life, including in education and in health care.

Create and maintain healthy, clean, and safe schools for children.

Seek to enforce existing environmental and health standards in ensuring environmental justice for all.

Seek to involve impacted communities in environmental decision-making.

Seek to increase computer ownership among youths and families.

If you do not have a computer at home, identify your closet community learning center; inquire about computer training courses it has available.

Get a library card and use the computers.

Invest in a home computer, especially if you have children.

Make sure your home computer is connected to the Internet.

* Encourage your child’s school to offer computer literacy courses, including word processing, web design, and Internet research techniques.

* Seek to have your local officials to increase training opportunities and resources to develop digital literacy and advanced skills.

* Seek to have local officials to create state funding sources to extend the Internet to organizations that serve low-income communities..

* Seek to protect and support the ability of local government affordable broadband access.

* Seek to make universal broadband access a credible goal of state and local policy.

Dr. Cornell West wrote in the book “The Covenant” that was introduced by Brother Travis Smiley. Our “Covenant” is neither a contract nor a compact. A contract is too selfish, and a compact is too seasonal. Now is the time for us to keep faith with our spiritual, moral, and political covenant bequeathed to us by great foremothers and forefathers that simply says: ““Stand with grace and take action with courage and compassion, with malice toward none yet a righteous indignation against injustice, so that everyday people-and especially their precious children can flower and flourish as the sun shines and the stars shout with joy.””

We the undersigned agree to execute the creeds of “The Covenant of Peace.”