Malik is a ten year old African American boy. He lives with his mother and two other siblings. I first met him after I became president of my neighborhood association. Malik and his family lives in my neighborhood. Malik appeared to be a normal young kid full of energy and promise, but as I began to talk to him I noticed that there was more going on inside of him. During our conversations I realized that Malik had a deep sadness. You see Malik had never known his father. His father had left before he was born and he missed him. He said, "It felt like a part of him was missing."

"Sometimes at night when I think about him I cry myself to sleep", he bravely confided in me. He told me that what he missed most was having someone to take him places and play with him. "Kids need their fathers to protect them." he said. His eyes showing the deep sadness he was feeling.

Bo

I just wanted to share an experience I had recently that further underscores the need for what we are proposing. A young man who worked at the barbershop that I go to get my haircut at was recently found over in Kansas murdered in his car. The other young barbers were understandably distraught and so I invited them out to talk about their feelings and how this affected them. I was amazed at their responses to our conversations. There were five young men there and they all acknowledge that no Black adult male had ever taken the time to have a conversation like this with them. They were hanging on my every word as we discussed how men react to circumstances like this and what was the best way to do so. I left them that evening with an even greater desire to ensure that we are able to provide this for other young black men and fathers.

There are thousands of Maliks right here in Kansas City who need our help. They are looking for the protection, support, and direction of a father. These are the young men who grow up angry and act out with violence on our streets everyday. We believe there is a direct connection between Malik pain and Bo's death.

Please let's show Malik that there are those who care about his plight and are willing to stand next to him and give him the instruction he so desperately needs. If you are able please contribute to our efforts and be willing to mentor to those little ones before they become angry young men full of rage and self-destruction.

“Listen to the mustn'ts, child. Listen to the don'ts. Listen to the shouldn'ts, the impossibles, the won'ts. Listen to the never haves, then listen close to me... Anything can happen, child. Anything can be.” - Shel Silverstein