(r-l) Naim Shah Jr. (Dawah 2000), Umar Hakim Dey (INKERIJ Foundation), Dr. Aquil Basheer (PCTI), James Williams III (Department of Justice), Andre Christian (Watts Life United), William Welch (Outreach 360), and Khalid Shah (Stop the Violence Increase the Peace Foundation.)
On Wednesday July 5, 2023 a panel of professional grassroots leaders presented Dawah (Education) Based Prevention and Intervention Training. This training in prevention and intervention, community organizing, and entrepreneurship was led by a panel of experienced local community influencers. Stop The Violence Increase the Peace Foundation is offering this training series in collaboration with community partners at local mosques, using a combined curriculum designed to rebuild personal capacity primarily in South Los Angeles.
Naim Shah Sr. (Dawah 2000), a leader known for safeguarding his community through self-determination and life saving skills, says, “Work is Worship”. Khalid Shah (Stop the Violence Increase the Peace Foundation) leads this urban initiative as a new community-based approach, training will be offered by an interfaith cohort of qualified experts with a license to operate on the toughest streets in LA County. South Los Angeles needs a plan that will prevent, intervene, and transform SPA 6’s social ills through a strategy of life skills with compassion. Since the 1990’s, wrongful political agendas and policies sent hundreds of African and Latino Americans to prison. The NAACP reports, “As of October 2016, there have been 1900 exonerations of the wrongfully accused, 47% of the exonerated were African Americans.” NAACP
Intentionally this training will not only address how many African-Americans were targeted by life changing policies; but will equip participants with the skills, wisdom of self-determination, and power-building tools as we approach the U.S. presidential elections seeking human security (Freedom from Fear and Want) in Southern California.
This training is not politically driven, but it will address the way resident vote in the near future. As we have seen what politics did in the 1990s by locking up generations of Black Men through a relentless campaign of fear. Our strategy is to individually address and unravel the trauma that causes violence and to facilitate healing and empowerment for the families who have been deeply affected and left behind with no way out. These workshops will promote working solutions through community discussions with the intention to initiate healing, led by mentors and leaders leading in upcoming weeks (September – November.)
In order to design a remedy we must, “We stand on the shoulders of those who came before us, so one day the next generation can stand on ours…” says Umar Hakim-Dey (INKERIJ.) During the panel, Andre Christian (Watts Life United) stated… “Some folks are not qualified to do this work; they may want peace but are not personally committed to the peace process.”
California Attorney General Rob Bonta’s 2022 Hate Crime Report states that hate crimes have not only increased, but it disproportionately targets African Americans, while only making up 9% of Los Angeles County’s population, African Americans are experiencing a rise of 27% of the county’s hate crimes. Dr. Aquil Basheer said “Failure is a bruise, not a tattoo,” and we will once again heal.
This certified training will provide a series of workshops to prepare participants to work as County Street Ambassadors (CMAs) with Gang Reduction and Youth Development (GRYD) in the City of Los Angeles. We are also partnering with Taste of Soul (one of Los Angeles’ largest sponsored events), which generates jobs and opportunities for residents and entrepreneurs.
This partnership aligns itself with objectives of Los Angeles’ new Mayor Karen Bass, whose origins are rooted in community organizing, and city officials like Councilwoman Monica Rodriquez, head of the Public Safety Committee for Los Angeles. It seems that the time for change has arrived.
The overall vision of this training is community empowerment, with the objective of moving people and resources into position for employment opportunities in Los Angeles. For years, Stop the Violence Increase the Peace Foundation, Professional Community Intervention Training Institute International, and other collaborating groups have been creating action through a community-based strategy to improve public safety.
INKERIJ Workshop Dates
September 20, 2023: Concept of Power
October 2, 2023: Civic Engagement Forum
November 4, 2023: Civic Engagement Debrief
Community Partnership: Los Angeles Dept. of Justice, Outreach 360, PTIC, Watts Life United, Stop The Violence Increase The Peace Foundation, and INKERIJ will collaborate for the above workshop dates.
NKERIJ is a 501(c)(3) Social Enterprise, helping the purpose-driven build personal and organizational capacity. Contact INKERIJ and Join our newsletter for updates.
