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Officials: Black male role models needed

YOUNGSTOWN — A group of Youngstown area black men, including fire Chief Barry Finley and police Chief Carl Davis — are discussing how they can work together to provide positive role models for black youth, so they can know there are other avenues than violence to solve problems.

Both Finley and Davis spoke briefly during an online session held Monday, discussing ways they can assist in changing the image of the city and encouraging young people to value educational opportunities and work.

Both men agreed to participate with Youngstown-area activist Jimma McWilson in a program called “African Men Taking Responsibility For Boys: Under-Education & Violence In The Streets & Schools.”

McWilson described the city as being known for violence in both its schools and in its neighborhoods, but he noted the vast majority of people living and working in the city are not involved in these acts.

“We need to congratulate the 95 percent of those who are not involved in committing crimes,” McWilson said.

McWilson emphasized black males — as a collective model — should go into area high schools to provide examples of people who have been successful, regardless of whether they have college degrees or have achieved success through their own business instincts and hard work.

Davis agreed the city is seen as violent, but most crimes are done by a small group of individuals, and officers often know who they are.

“We need people to step forward,” Davis said. “It is a challenge getting witnesses to come in to testify.”

Davis emphasized they have to convince young people to resolve conflicts without picking up a gun.

“We had an incident this weekend where there was a conflict and a man who was laying in bed was wounded after bullets traveled through the walls of his home, hitting him,” Davis said.

Finley noted the city’s reputation for violence has affected it in numerous ways.

“People take that into consideration when they decide where they want to live,” he said. “When I came onto the force, there was a residency requirement. The Ohio Supreme Court said the requirement was not constitutional.”

As a result, many city employees decided they did not want to live in the city, he noted. They determined they wanted to send their children to other school districts.

Finley too would like to see a diverse group of black males going into the schools, so children can see positive role models.

McWilson said they must emphatically show that 95 percent or more of the city’s residents are not involved in the crimes reported here.

“It is part of the problem,” he said. “What is the perception (of Youngstown) versus the reality.”

McWilson said he has contacted Mayor Jamael Tito Brown’s office, several members of Youngstown City Council, as well as representatives of the NAACP, Urban League, area clergy members, the Congressional Black Caucus, as well as other organizations to become involved with this collaborative effort.

McWilson said part of the problems facing children in Youngstown includes a sense of hopelessness and powerlessness they may feel from what they see happening around them.

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