Chicago student tackles youth violence through powerful essay

In the United States, a student named Jade Lee, who is going into the 8th grade at CICS Prairie in Roseland, recently participated in the national 'Do the Write Thing' summit held in Washington, D.C. This annual event aims to address youth violence by bringing together young people from across the country to engage in discussions and explore the root causes of violence. Jade was selected to represent her city after her essay was chosen among over 800 submissions from students within the Chicago Public Schools. Her essay is written through the perspective of a fictional character named Samara, highlighting the struggles and unique challenges faced by youth dealing with violence in their neighborhoods. During the summit, Jade and her mother, Brittany Powell, had the opportunity to connect with students from various cities and meet with elected officials, including Senator Tammy Duckworth from Illinois. The experience of the summit proved to be an inspirational moment for Jade, as she expressed admiration for how her peers shared their stories and experiences with violence. Her essay delves into the various mental and social factors that can lead young individuals to view violence as the only option available to them, drawing from her own experiences growing up in Roseland. Jade articulated that writing this essay was a chance for her to express her unique perspective and the impact of violence on her personal life and her community. Her narrative reflects on how the environment and personal histories shape the lives of young people, emphasizing the need for understanding and action from the greater society. Both Jade and her mother brought away a crucial message from the summit: listening to youth voices is fundamental in creating solutions to the issues they face. Inspired by the profound discussions at the summit, Jade expressed her desire to contribute actively to her community by organizing initiatives such as entrepreneurship and mentorship programs. This would not only provide support to her peers but also cultivate a sense of community bonding and connection, ideally helping to pave a brighter path for future generations. Jade's determination to be part of the solution marks a hopeful step in addressing youth violence through proactive engagement and community solidarity.