By Rosaland Tyler

Associate Editor

New Journal and Guide

SUFFOLK

Suffolk NAACP President Charles Gates decided to do more than wring his hands and worry when a third youth was shot and killed this year.

He scheduled a town-hall meeting on Aug. 17 then another one on Aug. 26. About 200 people lined the pews inside of St. Timothy Baptist Church during the first meeting, taking turns at the microphone Gates passed around to city officials, parents and students.  What surfaced were three weekly and biweekly programs which will be held throughout the year at Tabernacle Christian Church. A performing arts program has already attracted 52 youth. And an ongoing face-to-face  dialogue called Expressions will start Sept. 14 (6 p.m.) while an after-school tutoring program will kick off on Oct. 5 (5:15 p.m.).

“I wanted to put people together under one roof to solve the problem,” Gates said. “This type of concern mounts after a youth killing only to fizzle out midstream.”

People had plenty to say, Gates said.  Some of the youth jotted down anonymous remarks on index cards. At some point a plan of action took shape, as city officials and community leaders talked face-to-face with parents and students. All of the civic clubs were present.

“We want to bridge the gap,” Gates said. “The same issues surfaced over and over. The young people said, ‘We don’t have enough to do.’ ‘We feel excluded.’ Solving the problem is a collaborative effort.

“We can either put a band aid on it or get to the root of the problem,” Gates said. “The latest young man, Tyquan Lewis, was shot and killed for nothing.”

Lewis, an 18-year-old Lakeland High School student, was the second Lakeland High football player to die from gunshot wounds this year. Lewis was shot and killed during a fight at a party on Aug. 1. In January, 17-year-old Mike Lee, a Lakeland High cornerback, was also shot and killed at a party. In May, 25-year-old Melyssa Simmons was merely an innocent bystander when she was shot and killed. The parents of the three slain students attended both town hall meetings.

“At the meeting we got commitments from everyone,” Gates said. “Everybody said they will be involved. 

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