BATON ROUGE, La. (BRPROUD) – Combining food and parks, the Baton Rouge Street Team hosted an event in Spanish Town Park as part of a series of community events throughout the summer in common violence areas.
“We are doing hot dogs, we’re doing snacks. We’re also allowing them to tell us what violence looks like and feels like in their community because we don’t want to be the voice without community. We can’t advocate for the community without hearing directly from the community and making sure that they are part of the entire conversation,” said Executive Director of the BR Street Team Sateria Tate-Alexander.
Tate-Alexander said the events tie to the goal to help curb violence by connecting with community members and providing them with resources.
“Gun violence is a symptom. It is not the exact problem. There are a lot of issues that kind of contribute to that. So we’re going to do our part to shed light on that and to help our community to connect with resources,” said Tate-Alexander.
She said the BR Street Team made it a mission to get involved with the community and with “grill and chill,” they have been using it to target a younger audience, which has been working.
Jacori Jackson, a Baton Rouge resident has been coming to the events all summer long and said events like these are needed for the youth.
“You know one minute they’re in the house, but you never know when they go out there what they can get into. Especially in Baton Rouge, it’s dangerous out here,” Jackson said.
Jackson also said the BR Street Team is a much-needed resource that makes a difference.
“For what they’re doing and trying to make an impact and trying to stop the violence as much as they can. I really mess with them for that because that’s something these kids really need out here because you don’t want your kid to end up dead or in jail. What they’re doing is really positive,” said Jackson.
The next event where you can find and connect with the BR Street Team is the Community Safety Planning Lab, a two-day workshop, focused on partnering with local communities to address violence. The event will be Tuesday, July 18, and Wednesday, July 19, from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. on the fourth floor of the Downtown River Center Branch Library.
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