They Surveyed 505 Youths — ' I Learned That The City Could Be A Lot Better Than What It Is'

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Violent incidents involving Baltimore's youth have generated a lot of talk about how to engage the city's young people, but while violent incidents, involving squeegee kids may grab headlines, there are exceptions.

That prompted some to create a survey to ask what young people want from their city and city leaders.

Too often young people are talked about, but not talked with. The survey asked and people listened.

Kevin Fleming, 18, is a youth ethnographer. Wednesday evening at the Lillian Jones Recreation Center, he presented key findings of a survey created and conducted by nine young black males 18 to 24, in the 21217 ZIP code, which includes neighbors like Upton, Druid Heights, Penn North and Sandtown-Winchester. They surveyed 505 youths over five weeks.

"What programs exist in your community that are beneficial? What programs do you wish were in your community and what can you do to better your community?" Fleming said.

Dalonte Moore is a senior at Renaissance Academy and like Fleming, he was a paid surveyor.

"I learned that the city could be a lot better than what it is because a lot of people have input, but they don't know how to go about asking for help," Moore said.

This work is a collaboration between the Baltimore City Health Department and the University of Maryland School of Social Work. Kyla Liggett-Creel said the children in the community are eager to be part of change.

Kevin Fleming (left), 18, senior at Renaissance Academy and a youth ethnographer walks down a hallway with Dr. Kyla Liggett-Creel (right) of the University of Maryland School of Social Work

"For the kids to be able to say, 'This is what we need. We need opportunities, we need programs and opportunities to come together and help the community bring peace to the community,' and we as adults should be addressing these needs," Liggett-Creel said.

"I found out that a fourth of youth don't know of anything beneficial programs in their community and that's a real problem. Not enough opportunities for youth and if there is not enough effort to get them to them," Fleming said.

The hope is the feedback Fleming presented to the community will encourage grassroots organizations to get on board.

"Through recast grants and pull together members of this community to address needs of kids, everything from fatherhood initiatives, to healthy food initiatives, to recreation programs and hiring young people to come in and do the work," Liggett-Creel said.

It is the hope of Liggett-Creel that others who see the work being done here will duplicate it on their own neighborhoods.