(Kansas City, MO)—“We cannot continue to have weekend after weekend where black youth continue to kill black youth. Early Sunday morning saw yet another party, another shooting, and another black male dead. We are losing our young talent, and our future,” said Congressman Cleaver. 

As a continuation of the effort that began two weeks ago when he asked young adults to stand up and tell what they know about the shootings on Wornall, Congressman Cleaver hosted a "Youth Summit" at the Blue Room on 18th and Vine on Wednesday night.

“This is battle between good and evil,” said one participant, “you have to decide which side you are on. Do you choose the path that respects and builds our community, or the side that degrades and tears down our neighborhoods?”

“The gangs only tell you the good parts of getting involved; money, girls, status. But, they never tell you the downside; jail, living scared, and loosing those who are close to you because you made the choice to live a life of violence,” said Ossco Bolton, former gang member and leader of Peers Organized to Support Student Excellence (POSSE). “I’ve lost members of my family, including an 11-month-old baby. We all need to understand the choices we make have consequences.”

“I was there to listen. Too many times, those of us in my generation talk too much and forget to listen. The standing room only crowd that gathered last night showed me that there is the recognition and desire to take back our neighborhoods and not live in fear,” said Congressman Cleaver, “In my day we marched with dogs snapping at our legs. That was my generation’s struggle. This generation’s struggle is far different and in many ways far more difficult.”
 
The Summit featured speakers on a range of topics affecting young adults 18-25 including relationships and youth violence. Local radio celebrity Tony G, with Hot 103 Jamz, moderated the event that featured DJ Cache-22 and a poetry slam.

Emanuel Cleaver, II is the U.S. Representative for Missouri’s Fifth Congressional District, which includes Kansas City, Independence, Lee's Summit, Raytown, Grandview, Sugar Creek, Belton, Raymore and Peculiar, Missouri. He is a member of the exclusive House Financial Services Committee.