THE NEW YORK CITY COUNCIL (NYCC) LEAD BY SPEAKER CHRISTINE QUINN AND ASST. DEPUTY MAJORITY LEADER INEZ DICKENS PRESENTS THE HIP-HOP SUMMIT YOUTH COUNCIL (HHSYC) WITH A PROCLAMATION DURING A SPECIAL CITY HALL CEREMONY FOR THE 2ND ANNUAL “HIP-HOP AGAINST GUN & GANG VIOLENCE WEEK”
5 Prong Plan to reduce gun & gang violence is unveiled as Hip-Hop takes on the single most important challenge in the 40-year history of the culture
By Charles and Randy Fisher @HHSYC
During a special ceremony at City Hall on May 22, 2013 to close out “Hip-Hop Against Gun & Gang Violence Week” the New York City Council presented the HHSYC with a proclamation to support their 2nd annual “Hip-Hop Against Gun & Gang Violence Week” (May 17-23) initiative. For the second year the Council supported the project because of their commitment to improve public safety. Last year’s initiative was a huge success. According to NYPD statistics gun murders were down by 40% during the 96-hour Memorial Day weekend period of 2012 compared to 2011 and by 16% between Memorial Day and Labor Day of 2012 compared to the same period in 2011. As you can see regardless of all the negative media you may hear about Hip-Hop the culture is using its influence to curb gun and gang violence and is doing a lot of positive things to make neighborhoods safe again through this project.
Though NY was the safest big city in the country with a record low 419 homicides breaking the 2009 record of 471 there is still a lot of work to be done. The Council’s Task Force to Combat Gun Violence has been hard at work developing and supporting new ideas to address violent crime in our city. In 2011 1 in 5 murders in the city occurred in or on the grounds of public housing; 1 in 5 shootings and 1 in every 4 guns were seized there also. Teen gangs share “community” guns hiding weapons behind a trash compactor one day and camouflaging in a leaf pile the next. In order to effectively reduce gun crimes you must also address gang violence as well.
May 17-23, 2013, a week before Memorial Day Weekend the unofficial start of summer, kicked off Phase 1 of a 109-day campaign to show young citizens how to be more proactive towards ending gun and gang violence with an emphasis on the hot summer months. The campaign, which ends Labor Day September 2, 2013, will take a creative approach towards improving public safety by coordinating a host of activities to secure a safer summer. The new, innovative 5-prong approach that has produced real results for years includes: Solution Summits; “Time 2 Shine” Talent Showcase; Rap 2 Bridge the Gap; the Daymond John Academy; and the Community Ambassadors 4 Peace. Each plays a role toward helping the HHSYC achieve its goals.
City Council Speaker Christine Quinn said “The Anti-Gun Task Force which we started which Councilmen Williams and Cabrera co-chair is in need of community groups and community models to bring gun violence down. It isn’t just police—it is social services, it is community outreach, it is Violence Interrupters and things of that nature and you have been doing just that. As we head into Memorial Day weekend, I just want to thank you both; you were doing the work before the City Council even had a Task Force. Your kind of work is exactly what I think spurred the Council to expand its focus and bring resources to support your efforts and I just want to thank you again for your efforts.”
City Council Asst. Deputy Majority Leader Inez Dickens stated “I want to thank the Fishers on behalf of myself, the Speaker and the entire City Council for the work that you do, not only in the village of Harlem but throughout the city. It is through the use of Hip-Hop, which is a language that young people understand, that you have been able to let them know that gun and youth violence will not be tolerated. With gun law reform being a hot national topic today, we know that this year will be even more special as we all work together united on all levels of government to improve public safety.”
“We are going to continue to support you and the work that you guys are doing because you’re at the forefront. You get the respect of the young people on the street they will listen to you before they will listen to anybody else. We commend you for making a tangible difference,” ended Councilman Fernando Cabrera.
“I love Hip-Hop, I am a Hip-Hop fan and I know that it is a language that we can use to bring good things into the community and as a tool to make our communities safer,” said Councilman Jumaane Williams.
“I’m here once again to show my support to end gun and gang violence; last year’s campaign was a winner and as we celebrate the 30 year anniversary of Video Music Box we are looking to do even bigger and better things to help stop the madness this year,” stated Uncle Ralph McDaniels of Video Music Box.
“I’m here today to support this creative initiative that is using the positive influence of Hip-Hop to end gun violence and save a lot of lives,” stated Jim Quent of Patricia Lynch & Associates, Inc.
Since 2008 the HHSYC has been on the street in the trenches showing young and at-risk citizens how they can be a part of the solution and not the problem. As you can see they have responded well because the proof is in the data and partnerships that they have forged to address this monumental task. It has been a long time coming but Hip-Hop has finally become a viable socially responsible force doing the work that the culture was originally founded for. Now that the organization has a track record for success in the area of gun and gang violence prevention they will reach out to the entire Hip-Hop family along with businesses, community and city agencies to help make this life saving project just as big as a hit record. HHSYC loves Hip-Hop and nothing can be more socially bigger for the culture than stopping the violence and saving young lives.
The organization thanked Asst. Deputy Majority Leader Dickens, Speaker Quinn, the Council Task Force co-chairs, Councilmen Cabrera and Williams, as well as all who supported the initiative for recognizing and supporting their work to reduce gun and gang violence in our great city. Being at City Hall meant a lot to the group and the hard work that their young members contributed towards making their community safe. As we close out the first week of a 109-day campaign let it be known that Hip-Hop has taken on the single most important challenge in the 40-year history of the culture—one that is committed and focused on saving lives through curbing gun and gang violence, which is the double-edged sword that continues to destroy our communities. Not since Hip-Hop played a key role towards the reform of the notorious Rockefeller Drug laws have we had such a challenge, but by working together we can be victorious once again.
ABOUT THE HIP-HOP SUMMIT YOUTH COUNCIL
The HHSYC was founded in July 2001 by Charles Fisher (also known as the former manager of LL Cool J, the Lost Boyz and co-discoverer of R. Kelly). The organization was created to help implement commitments made by record companies, artists, community leaders and elected officials at the historic 2001 Hip-Hop Summit in New York City. Participants are taught how to constructively use their time, talent and the Hip-Hop culture to improve social, political and economic conditions in their school, home and community. Randy Fisher is the organization’s Executive Director. For additional information, visit www.HHSYC.org or Facebook.com/HHSYC.
Captions-
Pic 1: Sharieff Fisher, Councilmembers James and King; Randy and Charles Fisher; Councilmembers Dickens; Vann; Ferreras; Rose; and Speaker Quinn at official Proclamation Ceremony presentation.
Pic 2: Councilmember Vallone and HSYC.
Pic 3: Sharieff Fisher; Randy Fisher; Uncle Ralph (holding Proclamation from City Council), Charles Fisher and Councilmember Richards.
Pic 4: Randy Fisher; Jim Quent, Charles and Randy Fisher holding banner and Proclamation.
Pic 5: Councilmember Andy King with HSYC and the proclamation.
Pic 6: Councilmember Charles Barron with HSYC and the proclamation.
