What key experiences made a difference for you?

One of the most important things that happened was the conversations between me and my peers. I felt solidarity in our shared experiences. Oftentimes you think that you might not have anything in common with someone across the country because of a geographical difference; however, we had many similar experiences and feelings. We talked about the work that we do and the challenges that we face on a daily basis, which almost mirrored one another.

At times I wonder if change will ever happen. I wonder if there will be serious violence prevention measures that don’t just sugarcoat the issues, but actually combat the issues. A defining moment for me was when one of the speakers posed a question to the audience. He asked, “Are you serious about the work that needs to happen?” Summits convene to talk about “the issue” yet we know the issue, and for years we’ve been having the same conversations. We know that the structure of our society is the cause of many of the ills that persons within society face. We know people live in damaged communities. We know that many youth are growing up without a nuclear family structure. We know that people don’t have jobs. We know that our education system is failing us. We know the issues and the solutions, so it bothers me that people are still dying.

What is your greatest takeaway from attending the Summit?

If I could tell someone one thing I learned from the Summit, it would be speaking with the youth representatives from Boston and learning about their efforts to engage Boston’s youth. I learned about youth participatory budgeting, which gives youth the opportunity to truly have a say about what happens in their city and it gives them real power. I was very eager to explore it, and since the Summit, the Baltimore City Youth Commission and staff of the mayor’s office have been in contact with Boston to understand the processes and challenges that they faced in bringing youth participatory budgeting to fruition. Hopefully, it is a model that the city of Baltimore can adopt!