>>> IN 1995, I MOVED BACK TO ST.

LOUIS AND I MET A YOUNG MAN WHO WORKED FOR THE MAYOR AGENCY OFFICE AND WAS A VILLAIN BY USING HIS CELL PHONE AND HE SAID IT WAS KEEPING HIM CONNECT TODAY THE GANG MEMBERS AND PEOPLE ON THE STREET.

HE TOLD ME THERE WAS A PROBLEM WITH VIOLENCE AND GANGS AND IT IS ONLY GOING TO GET WORSE IF WE DON'T ADDRESS IT RIGHT NOW.

THAT WAS 1995.

AND JAMES CLARK WHO IS THE URBAN LEAGUE VICE PRESIDENT.

A LOT OF TIMES ON TELEVISION WHEN THERE'S BAD EVENTS GOING ON, YOU ARE EVERYWHERE, AND YOU WORK SO HARD TO MAKE OUR COMMUNITY SAFE AND FIGHTING DRUG ABUSE.

IT IS A 7-DAY, 24-HOUR JOB.

ISN'T IT?

>> THANKS FOR HAVING ME.

IT IS AN HONOR TO BE HERE WITH YOU AND RAY, TWO MEDIA JUGGERNAU JUGGERNAUTS.

>> I WAS BLESSED TO WORK IN THE MAYOR'S OFFICE FOR FOUR YEARS AND UNDERSTOOD THAT WE HAD TO CHAMPION FOR THE NEIGHBORHOOD RESIDENTS THAT HAD NOT BEEN GIVEN A VOICE.

THAT IS WHAT FREEDOM OF CHOICE WANTS TO DO.

A YOUNG MIKE AND I WERE VERY, VERY SERIOUS IN OUR WORK.

BECAUSE THE FIRST AFRICAN AMERICAN MAYOR, FREEMAN BROUGHT US IN.

I WAS 22, AND MIKE WAS PROBABLY 19 OR 20.

AND WE SAID THAT WE ARE GOING TO DO OUR BEST EVERY DAY.

IT WAS VERY, VERY CHALLENGING.

WE WERE THANKFUL AND LOYAL TO HIM TO THIS DAY BECAUSE HE GAVE US THE OPPORTUNITY TO SERVE AND MIKE AND I WERE VERY, VERY INTENTIONAL TO DO OUR VERY BEST FOR THE CITIZENS OF THE ST.

LOUIS.

>> MIKE HAS GONE ON TO BE THE PRESIDENT AND CEO OF THE URBAN LEAGUE AND SERVED IN OFFICE AFTER WORKING WITH THE MAYOR.

>> TELL US ABOUT THE JOB YOU ARE DOING NOW AND YOUR RESPONSIBILITIES.

>> I CURRENT SERVE AS VICE PRESIDENT OF PUBLIC SAFETY WITH THE URBAN LEAGUE OF METROPOLITAN ST.

LOUIS.

THE URBAN LEAGUE STARTED THIS DIVISION OF PUBLIC SAFETY BECAUSE IT HAD NOT HAD ONE BEFORE.

AND MIKE AND I HAVE HAD A STRONG RELATIONSHIP.

THE BOARD AT THE URBAN LEAGUE IS THE OLDEST WITHIN THE LEAGUE AND MIKE INVITED ME TO JOIN THE URBAN LEAGUE TEAM AND WE HAD TO TAKE A VERY NEIGHBORHOOD APPROACH.

FOR TOO LONG, SOCIAL SERVICES HAS BEEN HYDROPLANING OVER THE PROBLEM.

WE HAVE STUDIED THE PROBLEM, WE HAVE STUDIED CRIME, VIOLENCE.

AND IT HAS BOTTOM TOO ACADEMIC WHERE IT TOOK THEM 25 YEARS TO DEDUCT THAT THE ROOT CRIME IS POVERTY.

I WAS POOR, I WAS BORN IN THE JEFF -- NEIGHBORHOOD.

BUT WE WERE NOT VIOLENT.

IT IS LACK OF RESOURCES AND LACK OF EXPOSURE.

SO, MY WHOLE BRAND IS TO FOCUS ON WHAT I CALL THE NPL NPL, THE NEIGHBORHOOD, THE FRONT PORCH AND THE LIVING ROOM.

AFTER MIKE AND I AGREED THAT THAT SHOULD BE THE FOCUS OF PUBLIC SAFETY, WE BEGAN TO GO TO PROGRAMS THAT HIT THE NEIGHBORHOOD.

ALL OF OUR PROGRAMS HAVE TO BE ABLE TO HIT THE FAMILIES THAT LIVE IN THE MOST CHALLENGED NEIGHBORHOODS.

THE INFORMATION HAS TO HIT THE FRONT PORCH AND WE HAVE TO UNDERSTAND AND CHALLENGE THE BEHAVIOR THAT TAKES PLACE IN THE LIVING ROOM.

IT WAS WITH THAT LENS THAT WE HAVE BEEN ABLE TO REALLY DEVELOP PROGRAMS THAT SPEAK TO THE PROBLEMS.

WE HAVE A GUN VIOLENCE PROBLEM.

NOTHING NEW.

WE HAVE TO BE ABLE TO TAKE THE DEEP DIVE INTO THE NEIGHBORHOODS, GET ON THE FRONT PORCH AND GO INTO THE LIVING ROOMS, IDENTIFY THE CONFLICTS AND WORK TO DE DEESCALATE THE PROBLEM.

WE HAVE ON CALL, 24/7.

WE CONTACT THE INDIVIDUAL'S FAMILY MEMBERS, THE CIRCLE OF CARE AND GET IN TOUCH WITH THE INDIVIDUAL AND DEESCALATE THE PROBLEM.

WE DON'T HAVE SUCCESS WITH THEM ALL.

WE HAVE HAD TO MOVE 35 PEOPLE OUT OF ST.

LOUIS BECAUSE THERE WAS NO DEESCALATING THE CONFLICT.

ONE OTHER PROBLEM WE HAVE TO HIT HEAD-ON IS THIS OPIOID CRISIS.

FENTANYL.

FENTANYL HIT AN AFRICAN AMERICAN COMMUNITY THAT WAS DECIMATED BY CRACK COCAINE.

IT HIT OUR COMMUNITY AND IT WAS SOLID.

CRACK COCAINE, DECIMATED THE COMMUNITY AND HEROIN DID A NUMBER AND NOW THE FENTANYL IS THE MONSTER AND IT IS HURTING THE AFRICAN AMERICAN COMMUNITY.

WE TALK A HARD LINE ON THAT.

WHERE WE HAVE A YOUNG LADY, JOHNS JOHNSON, WHO DOES THE WORK.

TWO DAYS OUT OF THE WEEK WE ARE IN THE NEIGHBORHOODS SITTING UP TRIAGE TENTS, DISTRIBUTING NARCAN, THAT IS THE ONLY THING DO HELP WITH AN OVERDOSE.

WE GIVE ITEMS, AND HEALTH SCREENINGS WITH PARTNERSHIPS WITH CHIPS.

IF A PERSON IS READY TO GO INTO REHAB, WE HAVE A PARTNERSHIP WITH BASIC, WHERE WE CAN GET AN INDIVIDUAL INTO REHAB WITHIN 48-72 HOURS.

IT IS ALL ABOUT BEING PRESENT.

WE HAVE A PARTNERSHIP WITH NEIGHBORHOOD CHURCHES.

IT IS THE NUMBER ONE POPULATED INSTITUTION IN EVERY NEIGHBORHOOD.

WE ARE INTENTIONAL IN COMING UP WITH RESOURCES AND BRINGING RESOURCES TO NEIGHBORHOODS THROUGH THE CHURCH.

>> GO AHEAD -- >> FIRST OF ALL, THANK YOU FOR THE KIND WORDS.

I WAS ALREADY OLD.

>> I WAS TOO.

>> YOU WERE ROCKING THE RIVERFRONT TIMES.

>>> HOW DO WE BALANCE THE NEED TO FULLY -- YOU SAY IT SO WELL -- TO UNDERSTAND THE SCOPE OF THE TRAGEDY WE HAVE, AT THE SAME TIME, NOT HAVE PEOPLE GIVE UP ON IT.

PEOPLE FROM OUTSIDE OF THE STATE, CITY, COUNTY, OTHER PLACES; HOW DO WE BALANCE THAT?

>> FIRST, RAY, WE HAVE TO UNDERSTAND WE HAVE REACHED A POINT OF ANALYSIS PWARALYSIS.

WE HAVE TO GET ON THE FRONT PORCH, LIVING ROOM, SO WE CAN SEE THE DYNAMICS FIRSTHAND.

NOT SOMETHING WE READ OR SAW ON A PIE CHART.

THAT'S WHERE WE CAN COME UP WITH THE RELEVANT PROGRAMS.

WE CAME UP WITH THE AMNESTY PROGRAMS.

WE WERE RIGHT THERE AND HELPING PEOPLE GET JOBS AND THE NUMBER ONE REASON THEY COULDN'T GET A JOB BECAUSE THEY HAD OUTSTANDING WARRANTS.

WE ADDRESSED THAT HEAD-ON.

WHEN YOU ARE IN THE NEIGHBORHOOD, FRONT PORCH, AND LIVING ROOM, YOU CAN DEVELOP PROGRAMS THAT IDENTIFY THE CRISIS.

WE HAVE BEEN 10 YEARS BEHIND THE ISSUE OF VIOLENCE.

WHEN YOU SAID WHEN I WAS IN MAYOR'S OFFICE, THIS DOES NOT SELF-REGULATE.

THIS IS ONLY GOING TO GET WORSE PROGRESSIVELY WORSE, AND THAT'S WHAT IS SHOWING UP RIGHT NOW.

I LOVE THE MAJOR DEVELOPMENTS.

I LOVE WHAT IS GOING ON IN THE CENTRAL CORRIDOR.

I THINK THAT THAT IS IMPORTANT TO THE LONG-TERM STABILITY OF ST.

LOUIS.

WE HAVE A HUMAN CAPITAL CRISIS.

WE HAVE A HUMAN CAPITAL CRISIS AND IT SHOWS UP IN 12, 13, 14-YEAR-OLD BOYS BREAKING INTO THE CARS, RIDING AROUND WITH A R14'S AND THEY ARE NOT AFRAID TO PULL THE TRIGGER.

AS LONG AS WE HAVE THE MENTALITIES, ALL OF THE WORK IS THREATENED.

>> WHEN YOU ARE ON THE FRONT PORCH OR LIVING ROOM, WHO IS MOST RECEPTIVE?

IT IS THE GUARDIAN OR THE KID A LOT OF TIMES?

I'M SURE SOME DON'T WANT TO LISTEN TO WHAT YOU HAVE TO SAY.

>> THAT'S THE ISSUE, RAY, WE DON'T DEAL WITH THE METROPOLITAN AREA.

WE DEAL WITH SMALL AREAS, 6 BY 8.

AND WE ENGAGE URBAN SPECIALISTS, UNIFORMED DISCIPLINED MEN AND WOMEN.

THEY COME FROM THE NEIGHBORHOOD AND UNDERSTAND THE CULTURE.

THEY ARE THERE CONSISTENTLY.

THEY WALK THE NEIGHBORHOOD, THEY KNOCK ON THE DOOR CONSECUTIVE CONSISTENTLY.

WITH MOTHERS SEE US WALKING THROUGH THE NEIGHBORHOOD EVERY DAY.

AND WE WANT TO NEEDS, 4119, 4118, GO SIX BLOCKS DEEP AND DELIVER RESOURCES TO FAMILIES.

AND THEN YOU CAN SEE THE NEIGHBORHOOD BEGIN TO COME TOGETHER IT IS GOING TO TAKE A NEIGHBORHOOD APPROACH.

>> WE CAN GO TO THE CHURCH, AND GET THE WARRANT LIFTED.

AND GET UTILITY HELP AND NARCAN.

WE CAN GO TO THE CHURCH TO GET A LIGHT BULB SO WE CAN BE APART OF THE PORCH LIGHT CAMPAIGN.

THERE IS REVOLUTION TAKING PLACE.

IT IS GOING TO TAKE A NEIGHBORHOOD RENAISSANCE.

HOW MUCH ATTENTION CAN WE FOCUS ON NEIGHBORHOODS?

HOW MANY AND HOW MUCH RESOURCE CAN WE BRING TO BEAR IN NEIGHBORHOODS?

ONE OF THE THINGS THAT FREEMAN DID, AND I WAS SO CHARGED, RAY, HE SAID WE WILL DO A STUDY ON THE CITY OF ST.

LOUIS IT WAS A DISPARITY STUDY.

200 PEOPLE HAD COME TO THE MEETING.

FACES I HAD SEEN IN THE NEWSPAPER.

POLITICIANS.

AND NEXT MEETING, THEY WERE BROKE OFF INTO FOCUS GROUPS.

AND I THOUGHT, WOW, THIS IS STRONG.

THEY PRODUCED A DOCUMENT THIS THICK, CRIME, VIOLENCE, HEALTH, EDUCATION, A WHOLE LITANY OF VARIABLES.

IT POINTED TO ZIP CODES.

IT POINTED TO THE SIDE OF TOWN.

IT POINTED TO BLOCKS.

I READ THAT THING FROM COVER TO COVER.

AND I SAID WE ARE FINALLY GOING TO BRING ABOUT CHANGE.

THAT WAS 1985 AND '86.

EVERY COUPLE OF YEARS -- 1995, '96.

>> AND THE STUDIES POINT TO THE SAME SIDE OF TOWN, SOME DISPARITIES AND THE SAME ZIP CODES.

AND NOW IT IS SPREADING INTO SOUTH ST.

LOUIS.

AND IT IS INTO NORTH COUNTY.

SO WE HAVE GOT TO STOP ANALYZES THE PROBLEM.

WE KNOW WHERE THE ZIPCODES ARE.

>> THIS DOES NOT SELF-REGULATE.

>> YOU ARE TALKING ABOUT PEOPLE IN UNIFORM.

ARE YOU TALKING ABOUT POLICE OFFICERS?

>> NO.

>> IT IS NOT THE UNIFORMS YOU ARE TALKING ABOUT.

TELL US ABOUT THE UNIFORMS.

>> I HAVE A VERY ENLIGHTENED GROUP OF DEDICATED MEN AND WOMEN AS URBAN SPECIALISTS.

SOME COME STRAIGHT FROM THE NEIGHBORHOOD AND SOME CAME FROM THE MILITARY.

THEY ARE THE TIP OF THE SPEAR.

SOCIAL SERVICE IS OPERATING OUT OF A CONSTRUCT THAT WAS HATCHED IN THE '70'S.

WE HAVE CASE WORKERS, RIGHT?

THAT HAS RUN ITS COURSE BECAUSE OF THE DEPTH OF DISFUNCTION, WE GOT TO HAVE URBAN ENGAGEMENT SPECIALISTS, ONCE AGAIN GO INTO THE NEIGHBORHOOD, FRONT PORCH AND LIVING ROOM.

>> YOU SAY UNIFORMS.

IT IS LIKE A UNIFORM?

>> YEAH.

THEY, I ACTUALLY, I LET THEM PICK WHAT THEY WANTED TO WEAR.

THEY ARE IN KHAKI PANTS, LIGHT SCALE BOOT AND A POLO-TYPE SHIRT AND A JACKET.

IT IS SIMPLE.

>> THE FOLLOW-UP POINT, WHEN THEY ARE TALKING TO A KID WHO ONE OF THOSE PEOPLE YOU DESCRIBED HAS SOMEBODY THAT MAY BE BREAKING INTO CARS AND IS NOT AFRAID TO USE HIS ASSAULT WEAPON, WHERE DOES THAT CONVERSATION START?

WHERE -- I CAN'T EVEN IMAGINE WHAT THE BEGINNING OF THAT CONVERSATION LOOKS LIKE.

>> WHAT IS YOUR NAME?

WHERE DO YOU GO TO SCHOOL?

WHERE DO YOU LIVE?

TAKE ME SO I CAN MEET WITH YOUR MOTHER.

AND THE CONVERSATION IS HAD WITH THE MOTHER.

AND OVER TIME, THE TRUST IS BUILT.

NOW, THE YOUNG MAN AND NOW, RAY, THE YOUNG WOMAN THAT IS CAUGHT IN HIGH RISK BEHAVIOR, THEY ARE NOW LOOKING FOR THE URBAN ENGAGEMENT SPECIALIST.

NOW THERE'S A FRIENDSHIP AND WE CAN REDIRECT THEM.

FIRST THING, YOU HAVE TO BE PRESENT.

SOCIAL SERVICES ORGANIZATIONS CAN'T CONTINUE TO SERVE THE COMMUNITY AND BE AT THE NEIGHBORHOOD LEVEL.

BECAUSE IT IS NOT LIKE THESE GUYS COME INTO ST.

LOUIS AND FALL OUT OF A SPACESHIP AND BREAK INTO A CAR AND GET BACK INTO THE SPACESHIP.

THEY ARE WALKING THE NEIGHBORHOODS AT 1, 2, 3 IN THE AFTERNOON, SOBER, LOOKING FOR THINGS TO DO.

WE HAVE TO BE ON THE GROUND TO BUILD RELATIONSHIPS WITH THEM.

IT IS TRENDING DOWN.

WE HAVE TO GET BACK TO THE BASICS.

WE HAVE GET TO BACK TO THE BASICS.

>> YOU DIDN'T FALL OUT A SPACESHIP.

YOU SHARED THE STORY.

TELL US WHERE YOU GREW UP AND YOUR JOURNEY TO HOW YOU GOT TO WHERE YOU ARE TODAY.

>> MAN, IT WAS THE BEST EXPERIENCE.

I GREW UP IN THE JEFF VANDER VANDERLOU NEIGHBORHOOD.

WE COULD PLAY OUTSIDE UNTIL THE STREET LIGHTS COME ON.

IF I DIDN'T HAVE ENOUGH FOOD, I COULD GO TO MY NEIGHB NEIGHBOR.

GET THAT BOY SOMETHING TO EAT OUT OF THE REFRIGERATOR.

AND THINGS BEGAN TO CHANGE.

WE HAD TO SIGN IN WHEN WE WENT TO A PROGRAM.

WHY DO WE HAVE TO SIGN IN?

SOCIAL SERVICE BECAME ESSENTIAL SCIENCE.

WE ARE NOT SIGNING IN.

THE OLDER KIDS THAT USED TO GET THE JOBS, SUPERWATCHING US.

WE KNEW THEM.

WHEN SOCIAL SCIENCE MORPHED.

IT WAS WHITE KIDS COMING INTO OUR NEIGHBORHOOD TO OVERSEE US.

AND THE FUNDER SAID, YOU HAVE GOT TO SIGN IN AND SIGN OUT.

WE ARE NOT SIGNING IN AND OUT.

THAT'S WHEN WE STARTED SPOKING WEED, THAT'S WHEN WE STARTED HANGING OUT AND I SAW THE CULTURE IN THE NEIGHBORHOOD CHANGE.

NOW I'M IN HIGH SCHOOL.

PEOPLE ARE FLASHING GUNS.

NOW WE HAVE A BASKETBALL GAME, AFTER THE GAME, IT IS A FIGHT.

GUNSHOTS RING OUT.

NOW, FRIENDS OF MINE ARE STARTING TO GO TO JAIL.

SOME FRIENDS ARE GETTING SHOT.

MY JUNIOR YEAR, I WAS LIKE, JAMES, YOU ARE NOT GETTING CAUGHT UP.

YOU ARE NOT SELLING DRUGS AND YOU ARE TOO INTELLIGENCE TO PUT YOURSELF IN A SITUATION TO PUT YOUR LIFE IN DANGER.

I JOINED THE ARMY.

I WENT INTO THE ARMY.

I WAS GOING FROM '85-'89.

WHEN I CAME BACK, I WAS DEVASTAT DEVASTATED.

THE YOUNG BOYS RIDING THE SKATEBOARDS WERE CRYPTS AND BLOODS, AND THE MOMS WERE SELLING THEIR BODIES FOR CRACK.

WHAT HAPPENED HERE?

AND I KNEW I COULD NOT JUST GO ON ABOUT MY LIFE.

I COULD GOT A DEGREE FIVE TIMES.

BUT THAT NEIGHBORHOOD HELPED YOU SO I WORKED THE NEIGHBORHOOD.

I RAN INTO ROBIN BOYCE, WHO HAD A GROUP.

MYSELF, MIKE MCMILLEN, AND KEVIN.

SHE OPENED UP THE DOOR TO COME ON TO THE RADIO TO TALK THE PROBLEMS.

ROBIN REALIZED I HAVE A GREAT GROUP OF YOUNG PEOPLE BUT I CAN'T DO TOO MUCH WITH THEM.

SHE SAID TO GO TO BETTER FAMILY LIFE.

WE JOINED B F L.

>> JAMAR, LEAK, AND -- THEY HELPED US AND HELPED US AND I GOT A JOB WITH ST.

LOUIS SCHOOLS AND THAT LET ME TO BOSLEY WE WORKE D OUR BUTTS OFF ON THE CAMPAIGN FOR MAYOR.

FREEMAN WON.

I GO BACK TO WHERE THE PROBLEM CAME FROM.

NEIGHBORHOODS NUFRNED PEOPLE.

YOU CAN PROTECT A YOUNG PERSON'S TRACK OF LIFE BASED ON WHERE THEY ARE BORN.

WE HAVE VERY SERIOUS PROBLEMS.

I JUST SAY, IT STARTS IN THE NEIGHBORHOOD.

IF WE WANT TO SEE ST.

LOUIS REBUILT, IT IS NOT GOING TO BE BRICK AND MORTAR.

IT IS THE HUMAN CAPITAL.

>> WHAT CAN PEOPLE DO TO HELP YOU?

I MEAN, WHAT YOU ARE DOING SPEAKS FOR ITSELF.

WHAT CAN SOMEBODY WATCHING 9 PBS TONIGHT, AND I DON'T MEAN ANY KIND OF -- HELP MAYBE ISN'T -- LET ME REPHRASE THAT.

PEOPLE WHO ARE WATCHING, HOW CAN THEY GET INVOLVED IN SOME WAY MAKE A DIFFERENCE?

>> YOU KNOW, RAY, IT IS ON A COUPLE OF LEVELS.

SEVERAL LEVELS.

ONE, THOSE WHO PROVIDE THE FUNDING, RIGHT, IT IS TIME THAT WE USE THAT DATA TO SAY IF I'M GOING TO FUND YOUR -- BECAUSE WE ARE IN CRISIS NOW.

THIS IS NOT A JUVENILE -- A SURGE IN JUVENILE CRIME.

THIS IS THE NEW NORM.

MORE AND MORE JUVENILES ARE GOING TO COMMIT CRIMES.

WE HAVE GOT TO SAY TO THOSE, TO ORGANIZATIONS, IF YOUR ORGANIZATION IS NOT IN THE NEIGHBORHOOD, ON THE FRONT PORCH AND IN THE LIVING ROOM, WE ARE GOING TO HAVE TO REDIRECT YOUR FUNDING.

BECAUSE WE ARE GOING TO BE THREATENED BY THIS BEHAVIOR FOR DECADES UNTIL WE CAN REDIRECT THE FUNDING.

AND WE'LL ANALYZE AND MAKE AN EMERGENCY SHIFT LOWERING THE TRAJECTORY.

WE HAVE GOT TO LOOK AT WHAT SKILL SETS PEOPLE HAVE.

IF YOU HAVE A SKILL AND YOU WANT TO VOLUNTEER, OF COURSE, YOU CAN COME TO THE URBAN LEAGUE.

WE WELCOME VOLUNTEERS.

THE URBAN LEAGUE IS NOT THE END ALL, BE ALL.

WE WANT YOU TO FIND AN ORGANIZATION YOU FEEL COMFORTABLE WITH.

IF YOU ARE A MEMBER OF A CHURCH, YOUR CHURCH SHOULD BE ACTIVE IN THE NEIGHBORHOOD IN WHICH YOUR CHURCH IS LOCATED.

WE HAVE A GROWING NUMBER OF CHURCHES THAT WE ARE TRYING TO, THAT WE ARE MOBILIZING TO BRING RESOURCES THROUGH THE CHURCH TO THE NEIGHBORHOOD FAMILIES: IT IS ABOUT HOW ACTIVITY CAN WE BE WHERE THE HELP IS NEEDED THE MOST.

>> LAST TIME I SAW YOU, MARTIN LUTHER KING BIRTHDAY.

YOU HAD SO MUCH GOING ON, FOOD GIVE AWAY, CLEANING UP THE NEIGHBORHOOD, WE HAD A CONVERSATION AND I WANT YOU TO SHARE THAT.

YOU TALKED ABOUT MLK DAY, IT WAS TRYING TO DEAL WITH THE EXTERNAL IMPACTING OUR NEIGHBORHOODS AND YOU TALKED ABOUT THE INTERNAL AND IT WAS TIME.

MLK WAS WITH US TODAY, WHAT WOULD HE BE SAYING?

>> MAN, I THINK THAT IT IS NO DOUBT IF DR.

KING WAS WITH US, HE WOULD SAY TO AFRICAN AMERICANS, OUR CHALLENGE WAS INTERNAL.

OUR CURRENT CHALLENGE IS INTERNAL.

AS AFRICAN AMERICANS, WE CAN NO LONGER LOOK EXTERNALLY FOR THE SOLUTION.

BUT OVER THE LAST 5 YEARS, WE HAVE MOBILIZED GOOD TO EXPOSE RACISM, WE HAVE MOBILIZED TO EXPOSE SYSTEMIC RACISM.

AND WE HAVE TO SAY, WHAT ARE WE GOING TO EACH OTHER?

HOW ARE WE TREATING EACH OTHER?

THE '60'S WAS THE CIVIL RIGHTS MOVEMENT.

BUT HOW ARE WE VIOLATING EACH OTHER.

THE SENIORS CANNOT WALK OUT THEIR FRONT DOORS TO GET EXERCISE.

WE ARE VIOLATING OUR OWN CIVIL RIGHTS NOW.

IT IS TAKING A STEP BACK AND TAKING A HARD LOOK IN THE MIRROR.

IF DR.

KING WERE ALIVE TODAY, HE WOULD SAY WE HAVE TO MOBILIZE RIGHT NOW.

WE CAN'T LEAVE IT FOR THE NEXT GENERATION.

WE HAVE TO DRAW A LINE IN THE SAND.

I CHALLENGE PEOPLE IN MY GENERATION.

WE HAD IT THE BEST.

WE OWE, WE CAN'T TAKE ADVANTAGE OF THE THAT WE GOT OUT OF HYDE PARK AND OTHER NEIGHBORHOODS IN THE CITY AND SAY WE GOT OURS, WE BENEFITED FROM WHAT OUR PARENTS AND GRANDPARENTS LEFT US.

NOW IT IS A WAR ZONE.

WE OWE, IT IS TIME FOR US TO GIVE BACK.

>> YOU HEAR, IT IS HOPE.

YOU HEAR PEOPLE SAY THAT.

IN ELECTED OFFICE, IN JEFFERSON, AND I KNOW YOU WILL GO DOWN THERE.

YOU SPEAK WITH THEM.

AND THE PEOPLE THAT ARE NOT THE METRO AREAS.

HOW DO YOU RESPOND?

>> IF I THOUGHT IT WAS HOPELESS, I WOULD GIVE UP.

IT IS NOT HOPELESS.

IT IS GOING TO TAKE OUR CONCENTRATED FOCUS.

WE HAVE THE BRAIN-TRUST.

WE HAVE THE RESOURCES.

WE HAVE GOT TO BE ABLE TO REALLY, WHAT CAN WE AGREE ON?

WE CAN AGREE WE HAVE A FAMILY CRISIS AND WE HAVE A NEIGHBORHOOD CRISIS!

.

WE CAN AGREE ON THAT.

WE HAVE TO ATTACK IT RIGHT WHERE IT EXISTS IN THE NEIGHBORHOOD, ON THE FRONT PORCH AND IN THE LIVING ROOM!

.

THAT'S WHERE WE HAVE GOT TO FOCUS.

ST.

LOUIS, WE SHOULD BE MORE LIKE DENVER AND LESS LIKE CHICAGO.

WE SHOULD BE LIKE SEATTLE.

THEY HAVE CRIME AND VIOLENCE PROBLEMS.

WE ARE NOT BIG AND WE KNOW EXACTLY WHERE THE NEIGHBORHOODS ARE.

THERE ARE 15 NEIGHBORHOODS IN THE CITY, 9, 12 NEIGHBORHOODS IN THE COUNTY.

AND SEVEN NEIGHBORHOODS IN EAST ST.

LOUIS.

IF WE CAN FOCUS ON THOSE NEIGHBORHOODS, ST.

LOUIS BECOMES MORE LIVEABLE IN FIVE YEARS.

BUT IF WE DON'T, ST.

LOUIS WILL BE THE NEXT DETROIT.

>> MAN, I FORGOT, THE NUMBER GOT PUT OUT, THERE ARE 25, 30 THOUSAND AFRICAN AMERICAN TEENAGERS IN ST.

LOUIS COUNTY.

THAT SEEMS LIKE IT IS FIXABLE.

>> OUR PROBLEMS WITH FIXABLE.

WE DON'T WANT TO FOCUS ON THEM.

FOR SOME REASON WE WANT TO HAVE NARRATIVE, DATA, FOCUS GROUPS, WE WANT TO PUBLISH AND PEOPLE HAVE GOTTEN WEALTHY TALKING ABOUT THE PROBLEMS.

JAMES WANTS TO SPEND HIS TIME POINTING AT THE FIRE.

POINTING AT THE FIRE.

WE HAVE GOT TO BE ABLE TO BREAK THROUGH THIS TIER, STOP THE HYDROPLANINHYDROPLANING.

>> THIS MAN GETTING TO THE BOTTOM LINE.

>> I WISH WE COULD GO LONGER.

>> ME TOO.

>> THANKS FOR BEING HERE ON NEXT UP.

>> THANKS FOR BEING HERE ON DONNYBROOK AND DONNYBROOK NEXT UP!