PUBLIC SAFETY

Men fight back against youth violence with high-fives and cheers

Men lined up outside an Eastside middle school, greeting students as they arrived for class Monday morning.

Justin L. Mack
justin.mack@Indystar.com


Hoping to fight back against violence gripping young people in Indianapolis, dozens of men traveled to an Eastside middle school to remind students of their worth and potential.

The men — coming from all ages and professions — lined up outside Tindley Preparatory Academy, greeting students with high-fives and words of encouragement as the middle-schoolers arrived for class Monday morning. It was their way of thanking the boys at Tindley for their hard work.

The message is as timely as ever following a weekend marred by the slaying of three Indianapolis teenagers.

On Sunday, 17-year-old Steven Kendall was shot and killed near an Eastside convenience store on East New York Street. Hours later, 17-year-old Coriana Johnson and 18-year-old Makayla Mitchell were found dead from multiple gunshot wounds in a car parked in the 2000 block of Berwick Avenue on the Westside.

Of the 105 victims of criminal homicide this year, eight are under the age of 18.

“These kids are growing up in a challenging area where they’re seeing a lot of gun violence and they see it every day,” said U.S. Attorney Josh J. Minkler, one of the organizers of Monday's rally. “Yes, they go to a nice school. But they need to know that the community is behind them."

Tindley Preparatory Academy sits just footsteps north of East 38th Street and North Sherman Drive, one of six “hot spots” identified by public safety officials as having a higher amount of crime.

But Tindley's location isn't stopping young people from making a positive impact in the community, Minkler said, and there are many success stories coming out of the school.

The problem is those stories are often drowned out by the latest tragedy.

“We’ve heard a lot about the negative things the youth in this community are doing, and it’s just nice to see the positive things and recognize them and appreciate them,” he said. “It’s about time these kids got their due.”

On Monday, what started as a collection of public safety officials and church leaders huddled outside the school rapidly ballooned into a group with more than 70 people — all flanking the front entrance of the school.

Initially, drowsy youngsters wore looks of confusion as they inched toward the front doors. When they drew near, the men called out to them with wide smiles and outstretched arms. Their words came with high-fives, firm handshakes and pats on the back.

Jolted awake, the students’ arrival began resembling the Indianapolis Colts blasting through the tunnel and onto the field for a Sunday afternoon game.

“It’s all about you!” men in the crowd repeated. The boys responded with wide grins of their own and energetic dashes into the school.

Among the supporters was 17-year-old Andrew Porter, a senior honors student at Charles A. Tindley Accelerated School.

Wearing a maroon blazer worn by older Tindley students, Porter recalled looking up to the big kids when he was a middle-schooler at Tindley Preparatory Academy.

“All this … it’s like extra encouragement for them,” Porter said. “Once they see people in the blazer and see that they made it in the high school, they think, ‘If they did it, then I can do it.’"

Patrick Jones, principal of Tindley Preparatory Academy, was floored by the turnout and response Monday morning. After their warm welcome, students were buzzing with energy and eager to jump into their school week.

Being able to gather so many positive, male role models in one place reinforces the school's message to students that their dreams are attainable, Jones said.

“You’re never getting education for education's sake," Jones said. "I think these young men need to recognize that they can go somewhere, do something, live out their dreams and fulfill their destinies.”

Monday's rally is the most recent event organized by Minkler and Marion County Juvenile Magistrate Geoffrey Gaither. Early plans call for rallies to be held at John Marshall High School and Avondale Meadow Academy in the next month.

Call Star reporter Justin L. Mack at (317) 444-6138. Follow him on Twitter: @justinlmack.