WHEN I THINK OF LIP

DeOnte Rawlings, also known as LIP, was a 14 year old boy who was killed by the police for some petty stuff. In 50 years he would have been 64, and he would have wanted a lot of stuff. But the police took it away from him, a smart funny little guy with a lot of energy and talent. He was from Wahler Place. To the police: I hate them for LIP and a lot of other things too. The police have been doing stuff like this for years. LIP was my lil brother and I love him to death. Everyday I wish to see him but I know that I’m not going to see him. In 57 years he probably would have still been with me and the rest of our crew. Old as dirt smoking some …… if you know what that is.
L is for boots loves
I is for intelligent
P is petty a** police

stop the BEEF

In 50 years, I will be 65 years old. I will be retired and living in Jamaica. I think there will be more violence I think there will still be wars and that certain areas in DC will undergo changes that will force their conditions to worsen. For instance, different areas in DC will get ‘dirtier’ referring to drugs and violence.

Now we are faced with issues such as HIV/AIDS, gun violence, police brutality, drug and alcohol abuse, homelessness, and global warming. If these problems persist the world will end up “a big mess,” meaning that everything will only get worse. If these problems persisted, I would feel bad for the people that didn’t get the help they needed and I would feel some sort of self-pity for myself because I didn’t do anything to try and change the situations at hand. In order to begin to make a change, we should stop the BEEF which will bring a decrease in unnecessary violence, and recycle more to preserve our ozone layer. These changes should begin now because there are so many kids dying which results in demise in future prosperity and economic growth for our world.

BRITTANY CRISP

BOOTS' LIFE

Hi my name is Boots and I’am 16 years old. But in 50 years I will be 66 what I’ll probably be doing is chillin. Maybe thinking that I’m 16 again. I’ll be living on WAHLER PLACE SE. What I want is 3 children and to work for metro like my mommy. Right now I’m just chillin still thinking about the police and their ways. They have some wrong ways. If you read my blog from the last time then you understand where I’m coming from.

The world probably look really really different in the year 2057. It will look different because they are changing a lot of things today. But the streets will always be the same. In 57 years the world would probably have gone crazy, crazy like what don’t ask me cause its crazy now.

50 years from now..

In 50 years I will be 66 years old. I will be living in Maryland, and working as a firefighter. The world will become a worse place to live in. In the year 2057 D.C will be empty and dirty. If none of these community concerns are addressed more people will become infected with HIV, and more people will be dying from it. The neighborhoods will be dirty and the water will still be polluted. More people will be getting shot or will be dead. There will be more alcoholics and addicts with messed up lives. There will be more homeless people living on the streets. This is not a world that I would want to live in. In order to make the world better there needs to be more funding for HIV/ AIDS research. People need to make an effort to help clean up the environment. There needs to be laws passed to stop people from selling guns. Stores need to stop selling alcohol and people need to stop selling drugs. There needs to be more shelters for homeless people. I think that all this should happen as soon as possible, so we can save more people lives.

Dimitrious in 50 years

In 50 years I will be 63 years old. Hopefully I will live in Washington, D.C. In the 43 years after I turn 20, I would like to play in the N.F.L, and when I retire I would invest my money. The one thing I want to stay the same is me and my family. In 2057 the world will be more hi-tech. There will be bigger T.V, and more realistic games.I want the world to be cleaner and safer to walk around. I think the world will have to get rid of guns or violence, and drugs also. If none of these are followed the world would look dirtier and unsafe. I will feel safer if these rules are followed. I think these actions should be followed now in order to keep our community clean and safe.

50 years from now

In 50 years from now I will be 66 living in a big house me and my husband watching our grandbabies grow up. Some things will be the same as always, but some things will change. The streets will always be the same. But, I wish the killing the drugs, the violence, the everything, was gone. And, I think the world will probably look pretty different. All the projects will be out, they will have built new schools and new office buildings. They will hire teenagers, so kids will be able to get jobs. I hope the population of people with AIDS will be lower. I hope people will stop having unprotected sex, and having babies and stuff. I will feel good if all of that changes.

If that stuff doesn’t change, I will feel the same as I do now. Now I feel okay because I have hope for the future. I hope my kids will grow up in a better world, and will grow up to be better than me. Sometimes, I still do bad stuff but I still focus. See I’m street smart, a little school smart, but I try my hardest in school too.

The World According to Mark

50 years from now, I will be 65 years old. I will be living in D.C., retired from playing football. I got a scholarship to play in college at the University of Delaware. I played running back, and won the Heisman Trophy. The world is still pretty much the same as it was 50 years ago. I have stayed in Trinidad, in the same house, but I am now master of the house with a wife who is 67 (I married an older woman) and two kids. My oldest son is 50 years old, and my youngest is 43. The neighborhood still looks like Trinidad, and DC looks like DC. I have had a great life, because I won the Heisman trophy BIG GUY!!!!!!!



Mark Pollard

Tion in 50 years

In 50 years I will be 63 and I will live in Maryland. I will be retired from being a health entrepreneur and hoped to have fixed illness, HIV, and AIDS. There will still be violence between hoods. I think there will be flying cars and people will dress differently. The world might look like trash and a dump, and people will be ill because the streets are dirty if people don’t work to fix problems in DC. I will be mad because I don’t want my son going to some dirty school or some dirty place. To prevent violence, the government should put more protection in the streets and George Bush should not hate on all black people. Changes should happen now so that more people can not get hurt or killed.

By lil tion from mayfair

THE WORLD IN 50 YEARS H.W.

In 50 years I’ll be on the block getting money. Cars will be flying. D.C will look the same. It will be sad because of police brutality and police killing.
We should train police officers to be more careful and not to plant drugs. Change should happen now. Change should happen because if it doesn’t the world will be the same. There is too much killing and it is depressing.

the world 50 years from now, by delonte

I will be 64 years old and living in D.C. I’ll be Chilling on my porch yelling at my grandchildren. The world will be more polluted and there will be no healthy trees and more disgusting water. I think nothing will be the same. In 2057 there will be more buildings and better looking streets. I think that the police will be worse and to make things better they should hire police that are against police brutality. In 50 years the world should be more safe, less polluted, and there will be opportunities for everyone. change should happen A.S.A.P.

the outcome of the World in 50 years

In the next 50 years, I will be 65 years old. I will live in New York City after going to cooking school. I will get a good job and stay there for at least 5 years. After, I will return to D.C. to start a boxing career. But when I come back to D.C. in 50 years, there may not be a D.C. to come back to because of police brutality against the people of Washington. I think police behave in that manner because there is not a big enough punishment for them. One to three months is not enough time. Sometimes, they aren’t punished at all. If the city continues to increase in police brutality there might be a war between the police and the citizens of Washington. There will be an increase in riots, police deaths, shootings. Everyone will fight each other. Basically, there will be no order. When I think about the possibilities, it makes me sick to my stomach. We have one of the highest crimes rates in the country and the police are not helping to stop the problem. If the police can’t do their job, who will?
How do I think we can change it? People need to learn to ask question first, not shoot and then ask questions later when it’s too late. The city should also increase the punishment for police brutality in the District of Columbia. Police need to be held to a higher standard. 10 to 15 years ought to make them think about police brutality a little more seriously.

emma profile

I am going to be 63 year old .I would live with my cousins in Florida. I would be working on my own business. I think it will change because I would think positive. I would still the same but in a different ways like be on time in my work do thing I never did when I was young. Washington DC will look clean if people start cleaning and changed some stupid laws, like 13 years old get lock up because I thing is not fair people are accusing kids for something they did not do.
If people did not talk about it HIV/Aid or other needs I think this world will go crazy more people dying and people would not listen to officer and they would think that these people are not worth it to do good things for them.
I would help people with disabilities and help the homeless with clothing and shoes and a place to sleep and people who help fix the world. I will feel happy that I just help poor people. I think so the world would be a better place not only for me or my kids for every one in the world that would like it to be a better place for does who think that they still have a chance to believe on there self .When people start realizing that the world could be a better, safety ,helpful, place for every one to become what they want .

Emma

Curfew Restraints

a curfew is a time that is given by the law or the judge. its against the law to not go by the time the law gives you. you have to stay in the house or a program after school. The curfew started in the 1890s because of immigration and now because they don't want juveniles to get in trouble. Some argue that probation is good so that people don't repeat crime. I feel that probation is wrong because you have to sit in the house with nothing to do. For instance, it keeps me from participating in the band and learning how to play the snare drums. These programs are good because they help me learn new things and they keep me active and in shape.

Antione

http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?file=/chronicle/archive/2005/02/06/EDGSMAPBHA1.DTL


http://m-w.com/cgi-bin/dictionary?book=Dictionary&va=curfew

http://www.usmayors.org/USCM/news/publications/curfew.htm

Pollution in the Anacostia

The Anacostia River is one of the dirtiest rivers in the United States. It runs through Washington, D.C. For a long time, the laws that are suppose to make sure the river stays clean have been avoided or ignored. Many things have caused the pollution in the Anacostia, including development, highway runoff and urban pollution. The pollution is affecting both humans and animals. Swimming in the river is not allowed for people, and fish are dying. However, there is hope for the Anacostia. Treatments to try to clean out the river include digging out toxins and sealing off parts of the river. I think we should have a cleaner river and a better smell.

BY: Shaunice Edwards

THE USE OF MARIJUANA

For people who know about marijuana it has THC . THC is a chemical that is in the plant which is called cannabis that is use to make marijuana. People call marijuana the gate way drug. They call it that because when you smoke it you go try bigger drugs like cocaine, and heroin. I think that marijuana is bad because people will get high and abuse people. So you should read about marijuana before using it or continue using it.
DIMITRIOUS

so many drugs

I learned that crystal meth is a very dangerous drug first you will look normal then your face will turn upside down so if I was you I wouldn’t use crystal meth
And the federal government restricted the sale of over-the-counter drugs that can be used to make crystal meth.
Some drugs are prescribed by doctors but others are illegal to our country.
Drugs are a big problem in the United States.
DRUGS ARE NOT GOOD FOR YOU!!!!!!

THINGS I STILL WANT TO KNOW!!



1. HOW MANY PEOPLE DIE FROM CRYSTAL METH EACH YEAR?

2. HOW MANY PEOPLE USE DRUGS EVERY YEAR?



BY:JAMILLA LAMYIA JOHNSON

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Methamphetamine

http://www.kidshealth.org/teen/drug_alcohol/drugs/know_about_drugs.html

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Drug

emma

Immigrants are people who don’t have paper so they can’t get any jobs. I think is not fair they can not have paper to work. Because there a large population in D.C. I think children should be allowed to cross from Mexico to the United States, because they are just kids that don’t know what they are going through. It is estimated that “6,460 underage illegal immigrants from Central America were detained in the United States while traveling without their parents and sent to government shelters.” I think that is not fair because they are just kids and because how they want them to travel with there parents and they might not have no parent so I think the government should give all kids paper so they could travel with out no problem and I also think these people who do all the laws are dumb because kids just want to come here to get a good education.

Sources:

http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/americas/2986096.stm
http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2006/08/27/AR2006082700771.html
http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2007/06/26/AR2007062602131.html

Facts and Opinions about Gun Violence

Fact: 4,223 young people ages 0-19 were killed by gunfire- one every two hours, nearly 12 every day in the U.S. in 1997.

Opinion: Guns are bad.

Fact: 630 young people killed by guns were under the age of 15.

Opinion: Guns are dangerous for young people to have. There are lots of restrictions on gun ownership, and for good reason.

Fact: Americans own nearly 200 million guns, 65 million of which are handguns.

Opinion: It’s ridiculous that there are 2/3 as many guns in America as there are people.

Source: http://www.securityworld.com/ia-425-the-facts-about-gun-violence.aspx

Police Violence

POLICE WERE BEING CROOKED COPS.THEY WERE ENGAGING WITH THE ACTIVITY THAT THEY ARE SUPPOSE TO STOP, SUCH AS STEALING, SELLING DRUGS, AND HAVING OTHER GUYS PAYING THEM.THIS WAS GOING ON IN PLACES LIKE WASHINGTON, ATLANTA AND DETROIT.IT STILL GOES ON IN MANY OTHER TOWNS, STATES, AND IN YOUR LOCAL NEIGHBORHOOD.
Police corruption affects everyone everywhere/ Police corruption rose when the cocaine trade rose.
The FBI found out that around half of the police corruption cases involved drugs.
This topic interests me because a month ago a friend of mine passed away because of the police. His name is DeOnte Rawling also known as Lip. He was nothing but 14 years old and the police knew that he was just a little boy so they shouldn’t have done that. Now that shows me that anything could happen to anyone that you love so fast. To this day it hurts because we were so close to me, and he was so young. So if you are a parent and you are reading this talk to your kid about things that are happening out here and stop them from the negative things that they do and have something positive for them to do. Just like that happened to my friend it could happen to anybody love your child to the fullest and love your parent to the fullest.

Sources
1. http://www.drugwarfacts.org/corrupt.htm
2. http://www.cyberessays.com/Politics/141.htm
3.http://www.heartbone.com/no_thugs/evenmore.htm
By: Boots

people with AIDS are still people

By derran

The highest AIDS rate in the country is in DC. Over 10,000 people have AIDS in DC. We can meet people with AIDS, but that doesn't mean you have to get AIDS. You can only get AIDS by having unprotected sex, blood, like from needles, and from breast milk of people infected with AIDS. You can hug, kiss, and be near people with AIDS and you won't get it. People are mean to people with AIDS, but you don't have to be that way. I think you can help them with their needs, with food, going somewhere for them, and you can take care of them when they are sick.

http://www.aids.org/factSheets/101-what-is-aids.html#anchor251



http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2006/03/27/AR2006032701510.html


http://www.cdc.gov/hiv/resources/qa/transmission.htm

Smoking

Smoking is bad!!!

About 1 of 3 Americans use weed! In a lifetime, Americans in general have been smoking weed a lot more since 1994 through 1999. In particular, young people smoke a lot. Though the percentage of 10th graders who have smoked marijuana in their life has fallen from 40.3% in 2000 to 34.1% in 2005, this level is still too high. We need to do something about these high numbers.

http://www.georgetownuniversityhospital.org/body.cfm?id=555563&action=articleDetail&AEProductID=Adam2004_1&AEArticleID=001945

http://www.whitehousedrugpolicy.gov/drugfact/marijuana/index.html

http://www.ukcia.org/research/adolescents.htm

By: Mark

air pollution

delonte

http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2007/09/29/AR2007092900959.html

I think that D.C. is the smelliest place on earth because dc has more pollution than 5 of the countries in Europe. Where does all of the pollution come from? I think that dc pollution comes from the citizens of dc.


http://seattlepi.nwsource.com/local/335572_transgenic16.html?source=rss

I think its cool that there are super trees because they suck up and destroy toxic chemicals. Super trees are cleaning the air.


http://www.cleartheair.org/proactive/newsroom/release.vtml?id=24581

Pollution kills people because of air that is polluted. Bad air causes over 250 deaths per year.

Things about Cocaine

In Washington D.C Crack Cocaine is one of the main killers.Alot of people who use this drug do not know the consequence of the drug. Cocaine is a powerfully addictive stimulant drug. Cocaine is a very inconsistent drug and many people can die by using the same or lower dose as before. Cocaine deaths are often a result of cardiac arrest or seizure followed by a respiratory arrest. I think that people should use this drug should go a read about it before they continue to use this drug.

http://www.drugabuse.gov/Infofacts/cocaine.html0

the anacostia river

The Anacostia River is very polluted and nasty because of negligence.
Between 75 and 90 percent of the Anacostia river is mostly polluted because of storm water and street runoffs.
The water also change colors during times and its chloroform it make the water turn green.
The Anacostia River stretches from Maryland to Washington so it’s a really bad problem for a lot of people.
The Anacostia watershed society announced they were going to sue Washington water and sewer authority in 2004.





Extra Question: Did you know that you can not eat the fish out the Anacostia River?

http://www.nrdc.org/water/pollution/fanacost.asp



http://www.umass.edu/ecologicalcities/watershed/anacostia.htm

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Anacostia_River.


by:jamilla lamyia johnson

HIV/AIDS: City Epidemic

The HIV/AIDS rate in Washington, DC is one of the worst in the United States. An estimated one in 20 city residents is infected with the virus. This makes HIV/AIDS one of the most severe health problems facing Washington DC. The Virus does not only affect older residents, however. According to the DC Department of Health, there are between 1000 and 1500 young people under 20 infected with HIV, and most of those youth don’t even know their status. Additionally, youth under 25 are the fastest growing population affected by HIV. This is a serious problem! Youth need to be educated about HIV/AIDS and how to address these issues. I think schools should take a more active role in educating teens about HIV and AIDS. Maybe better education will help protect DC youth from HIV.

African American residents of Washington DC are also highly affected by this epidemic. According to the Washington Post, while African Americans made up 61% of the DC population in 2003, they made up nearly 80% of all new AIDS cases. That proportion is out of balance with reality. We need to take action. I think the DC government should take a new and active role in future HIV prevention in the District. This issue needs to become a central focus of the DC government.


http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2005/08/09/AR2005080901343.html

http://www.metroteenaids.org/MTAGraphics/Fact%20Sheet%20FINAL.pdf

http://doh.dc.gov/doh/cwp/view,a,1371,q,573205,dohNav_GID,1802,dohNav,%7C33200%7C34259%7C.asp

Welcome!

Hello and welcome to the After School Kids Program Concerned Citizen blog. Read on to learn about problems and concerns facing youth and the Washington, DC community.

-Lynsey, Site Coordinator