Youth March for Peace

The Boys & Girls Clubs of Newark facilitates a Summer Program at the Central Ward Clubhouse, which consists of Technology, Art, Fitness, Aquatics, Games, Smart Moves and Education Class along with daily field trips. An inspirational guest speaker came to the Education class teaching on the power of change and learning about Malcolm X, Martin Luther King Jr. and the Black Panthers - he helped kids birth the vision that they have now worked so hard to make come alive.

The club members, ages 9 and 12/13, have organized themselves to become "Young People Against Violence" (YPAV). They have learned that although adults may "run" the world they have the ability to raise awareness and inspire not only other young people, but the adults they live among. Sometimes, a message coming from a child has more of an impact. The Boys & Girls Club wants kids to grow up into adults who make profound contributions to not only the community but our society at large.

In an effort to help raise awareness about the summer's increasing violence in Newark and bring the community together to help make a change, these youth have organized and planned an Anti-Violence March, ending in a small rally. The rally will host speakers including kids, community advocates, local activists, families of victims and government leaders.

This project was solely planned and executed by children. Members of YPAV created posters and fliers after developing meaningful slogans, mapped out the March route, hit the streets to spread the word, developed and implemented a publicity plan that includes social media and parents, contacted local police precinct requesting patrol presence for safety, worked for city approval from Newark's Office of Police Director, wrote and rehearsed motivational speeches, contacted speakers and invited their own families and friends from the community to help support their movement.

Here's info on the March:
- WHEN: Thursday August 25, 2011 from 1:30pm to 4pm
- WHERE: March begins at Central Ward Clubhouse (1 Avon Ave.) and will travel up Avon Ave, over on Irvine Turner Blvd, down Muhammad Ali Blvd. and over on Somerset St. ending in a small rally on the front steps of Boys and Girls Club. Parking is available in club's Parking Lot located next to facility on Somerset St.

- WHO: The march will consist of the 30 members of "Young People Against Violence" (YPAV) along with 150 campers between the ages of 6-13 years old, Local Activist Groups, community members and advocates, teachers, Boys & Girls Club Alumni and kids' friends and family members.

Follow them on twitter.com/ypavnewark