January 20th, 2010
By Mark
The following letter was sent to TKF after a Violence Impact Forum (VIF). The author is Patricia Ladd, the principal at Correia Middle School. She has very eloquently described how our work at TKF changes the lives of so many kids.
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Dear Trustees of TKF:
As Principal of Correia Middle School (CMS) a comprehensive middle school for 7th – 8th graders in one of our nation’s largest urban districts, I have an opportunity to interact daily with youngsters between the ages of 11-14 years of age. According to many expert opinions, (more…)
February 15th, 2009
By Mark
Every month on the second Thursday at 5:30pm, TKF hosts a Hour of Hope event. The Hour of Hope gives the attendees insight into the work of TKF, the problems of youth violence and how TKF is going to “Stop Kids From Killing Kids.” Near the end of the hour, this was read. I was deeply touched. After you read it, tell me what you think.
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“On My Way To School”
By Mayra Nunez of TKF and her Circle of Peace students
Yesterday, I got home late at about 11:00 at night, after I was at my homeboy’s house because I did not want to hear my father’s yelling and my mother’s cry. Empty beer bottles, smell of a drunk and cold food is the only thing I can find. I fall asleep to the sound of my stomach growling and the ache I feel all night. (more…)
August 02nd, 2008
By Mark
TKF embarked on a major strategic planning process over the course of four weeks in April 2008. The planning sessions were facilitated by Duane Trombly as a free resource donated by Duane and the San Diego Social Venture Partners (www.sdsvp.org). He did an excellent job. Thanks Duane and SDSVP. (more…)
January 12th, 2008
By Mark
TKF is embarking on its second critically important program initiative since its founding in 1996. We have just begun a longitudinal study to determine how effective TKF’s programs are in reducing violent behavior. A longitudinal study is simply a long term study with repeated observations to determine a trend. At TKF, we believe that our programs, if implemented at the proper frequency and in the proper settings, can actually reduce a child’s violent behavior. We believe we can reduce youth violence in a specific neighborhood if we implement our programs at the grade schools, middle schools and high schools that feed into each other. (more…)
July 06th, 2007
By Mark
In the early morning hours of May 25, four young men barely out of high school beat to death a neighbor of mine named Emery Kananui, age 24. Emery lived with his mom just around the corner from my home. I did not know Emery or the four young men accused in the killing. I do know that five young men have been lost to a single senseless act of violence.