Mixed Unity

In response to recent violence, 30 youths, representing numerous organizations in the Silver Spring area gathered recently to begin an initiative to put an end to the ongoing violence in the area. The group, named "Mixed Unity" has set out to raise awareness of the violence in the community. The 30 youth representatives divided themselves into smaller groups to test their compatibility with each other. With the vivid ideas that were presented and chosen, it was a sound success. The groups plan to continue meeting, each Tuesday at the Gandhi Brigade Offices at City Place Mall.

The gathering is in response to a recent tragedy that occurred on November 1st, 2008 when 14-year old Montgomery Blair High School student Tai Lam was murdered on board a Ride On bus in Silver Spring, Maryland around 11p.m. In tribute and memorial to Lam, makeshift memorials were created alongside the City Place Mall and at Montgomery Blair High School. The tragedy also brought to attention the amount of violence that is currently ongoing in the community.

The groups, dubbed; The "Groovy Grunts, "Entertainers" "Street Performers and "Creators", were each given assignments to complete in order to set up the chosen event. The chosen event that is to begin the initiative was a concert, also to raise awareness but more directed towards the youth in the area.

Hawa Toure contributed to this report.