MEMPHIS, Tenn. — A minister is fight back against youth violence in Frayser by giving kids attention and lots of it.
The ministry is called G.A.N.G., Inc. It stands for Gospel at New Generation.
It provides kids with more than a place to go after school. Minister Joe “Uncle Joe” Hunter offers around the clock mentoring.
G.A.N.G., Inc. set up shop in the North Frayser Community Center, where in just the last month 140 crimes from assault to drugs to robberies were reported within a mile of it.
The kids told WREG they would likely be caught up in those crimes, but now they’ve got bigger goals like college.
“If your kids are involved in reading and getting ready to go to college, they don’t have time to be a gang member,” said Hunter.
Hunter started G.A.N.G., Inc., a non-profit working to stop kids from making bad choices like joining gangs and doing drugs.
“If you want to stop a man from using a gun, one of the only ways I know to do that is knowing the young man,” said Hunter. “It’s listening. It’s being available. Physically, being available.”
The ministry started a decade ago reaching hundreds of kids who according to the District Attorney’s office live in a neighborhood where kids join gangs before they are 15 years old.
“I tell [my friends] to come up here and get out of trouble, if they are in trouble,” said D’Angula Hart, who has been going to G.A.N.G., Inc. for six years.
Kids said they started going to the ministry, because they wanted a safe place to hang out, help with their homework and someone to talk to.
“In school and out of school. He helps you with anything you need to deal with it. Every problem,” said Deundra Parrish, who has been going to G.A.N.G., Inc. since he was nine years old.
Hunter also keeps his phone on him 24/7 and offers advice at all hours of the night.
“To see a young man grow into a man and become a productive citizen. That’s all the reward I need. That’s it,” said Hunter.
His efforts are working. Many of his kids went to college, joined the military and even became Memphis Police officers.
Joe said youth violence in Memphis is only getting worse, so he now offers the program to children as young as nine.
“Kids are dying. Are we going to even act like we don’t like it? Are we going to try to stop it?” said Hunter. “Nobody is doing anything. Nobody is mad. There’s no marches. We go to school the next day. Everything is cool. Really? It can’t be.”
Right now, every table game in the community center is broken, the computers are getting old, and Hunter needs volunteers to read to the kids.
He also wants to expand the center to young adults offering vocational and performing arts programs.
To help with his efforts: http://www.gofundme.com/jtzzx4
If you are interested in joining the program, you can contact Uncle Joe’s Youth Help Line at 901.628.2262.
The program is free to all kids nine to 18-years-old.
