March 29, 2025 • 27 mins
Dorchester's Louis D. Brown Peace Institute was founded more than 30 years ago out of a mother's grief and pain. Chaplain Clementina Chery created the Institute to honor her late son, Louis, who was gunned down in the streets of Dorchester at just 15 years old in 1993. Now, the institute is known for the Mother's Day Walk for Peace and other work to not just prevent gun violence, but also help the families impacted by it. Chaplain Chery says she and the Institute want to take their work to a new level with a new Center for Healing, Teaching, and Learning. She shares the details with Nichole and explains how the community can help make the Center a reality.
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Episode Transcript
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Speaker 1 (00:07):
From WBZ News Radio in Boston. This is New England Weekend.
Each week we come together here and talk about all
the topics important to you and the place where you live.
Thanks for joining us again. I'm Nicole Davis. Losing a
family member to gun violence, like a spouse or a child,
can be devastating and rock your world. After Clementina Sherry's
(00:27):
teenage son, Louis D. Brown was gunned down, she channeled
her grief and pain into change for her community. In
nineteen ninety four, she created the Lewis D. Brown Peace Institute.
Ever since, Sherry has been working with the city residents, lawmakers,
and many others building peace, boosting local services for families
impacted like she was, and working to stop that violence
(00:48):
from breaking out in the first place. Now, the Institute
wants to expand its work and they want to do
this with the new Center for Healing, Teaching and Learning
in Dorchester. Let's find out a bit more about that.
Founder Clementina Sherry is here with us now. Chaplain Sherry,
thank you so much for your time. I know you're
a very busy woman. I'd love to start with a
bit more detailed history about the institute namely how you
(01:09):
came up with the idea out of all that grief
and how it got to the point where today almost
thirty years later, thirty years plus, actually you're doing all
this great work.
Speaker 2 (01:18):
Thank you. So the Piece Institute was named after my
fifteen year old son, Lewis Brown, who was caught on
a crossfire December twentieth of nineteen ninety three as he
left his house at three fifteen in the afternoon to
go to the train station for a meeting of the
group that he belonged to, Teens Against Gang Violence. I
(01:38):
tell people that Dave Lewis was killed. It's the day
that I woke up and I needed to find a
way to channel my pain and anger and to find
in my purpose inter action. So the Peace Institute was
birth in nineteen ninety four.
Speaker 1 (01:55):
Okay, and then what do you do now here in
twenty twenty five. Will tell me a little bit about
work around the city and how you help other kids
and families around the city as we try to deal
with this epidemic of gun violence.
Speaker 2 (02:07):
Thank you for that. So for us, you know, our
work is centered with three different pillars. First's programs and
services working with families on both sides of homicide, responding,
responding to the families whose love ones have been murdered
and also families who are in prisoned for murder. Really
(02:30):
making sure that we are working at both ends because
that psycholop retaliatory violence is present and well, the other
part of our work with families, programs and services is
also equipping what we call Generation Piece teaching the value
of peace so that we are giving them the tools
(02:50):
today so that they can be the architect of their
own healing, that they're not waiting until the problem happens
to the talk about peace. So right now we're in
incorporating the seven principles of peace, love, unity, faith, hope, courage, justice,
and forgiveness. They are peacemakers. We're calling them Generation Peace.
(03:13):
And then you know, through our advocacy and awareness, you know,
really looking at how do we impact inform an influence policy.
We can do this work, but if we don't create
policy that is sustainable, then we're just going to keep
spinning our wheels on. And then our third pillar is
(03:33):
training and education. We are not looking to recreate Peace Institute.
Everybody wants to be national for us. There's so many
groups and programs that are within our city, in our state,
and across the country. We want to train, we develop
best practices. We've had publications, tools, we want to transfer
(03:54):
our knowledge so whether the homicide happens, families do not
have to figure out way to go, what to turn
best practices on serving families impacted by the murder, or
our hospitals, our police department, our frontline practitioners have the
tools that they need to make sure families do not
(04:14):
have to go through this alone.
Speaker 1 (04:16):
It's been more than thirty years since you started the institute,
and Boston Mayor Michelle wou often says that Boston is
one of the safest cities in the country, if not
the safest city in the country. Gun violence is significantly
down in Boston. Our homicide rate is down. Do you
feel like the work that you have been doing at
the Institute has contributed to that? And where do you
(04:36):
see the city going?
Speaker 2 (04:38):
Oh? Yeah, I mean we really we're learning to take
credit for that. And actually, you know, Nicole, we have
been in every mayor's report of city. I'll go back
in nineteen ninety six, then the late mayor Tom Andino.
There was a report issued by then Attorney General Janet
Reno that the Lewis d Round Peace Curriculum was one
(05:01):
of the programs that contributed to the reduction of juvenile
crime in the City of Boston. We were teaching peace
through literature and community service learning. We're students, we are
then published, published authors. So we're going to claim that
and we've claimed that and shiated Yes. Today we are
taking credit because again we are an integral part of
(05:25):
the City of Boston. Homicide response protocol doesn't matter where
our homicide happens, the Mayor's office, the Police Department, our hospitals.
We are partner with the neighborhood. It was Boston Trump
Neighborhood Trauma Response Network, now it's Neighborhood Healing Response Network.
(05:46):
That's the name. And so really when a homicide happens,
we are making sure that the families one don't have
to do go fund me in two. They are connected
right now. If they die at the hospital, the hospital
refers them to our Survivors Outreach Services manager. If they
die on the street, the Boston Police Department Victims Witness
(06:09):
Resource make sure they come in. And then if they
got through the police involved shootings, either the community neighbors,
other survivors will make sure that family is connected. And
this is the baby. You can't see it, but this
is the tool that are part of the standard of
tear with each department within our city government to make
(06:32):
sure families know what to do in that first twenty
four to seventy two hours. So yes, we celebrate, we acknowledge,
and as a reminder that we still have a lot
of work to do because the response to homicide it's
still not institutionalized as every other issues within our city.
(06:57):
So that's the goal again and that we started with
Mayor Menino, Muddywash Kim Janey, and now our goal is
to make sure that with this administration, it doesn't matter
who is in this position, that homicide response is an
integral part of the City of Boston.
Speaker 1 (07:15):
And not just the response, but tackling the factors that
lead up to these incidents as well, working with our
young people, working with our families, making sure they have
the resources they need to prevent gang violence and to
prevent gun violence. And you're doing a great job in
that as well.
Speaker 2 (07:31):
And again, thank you for that. And you know, for us,
it is really that you know, we really started, you know,
really to teach the values piece. Our goal is to
focus on the assets of community and then to transform
the way society responds. So we are looking at it
what's called community violence intervention. That's the new framework. So
(07:54):
it's not just working on one side. We're working at
multiple levels to yeah address the issue and to make
sure we're equipping our young people. Because you know, there's
a quote and I don't know who took the quote
with for to hurt people, hurt people, heal people, heal people.
And so for me is what would I want? What
(08:18):
if my child is hurting someone, If my child hurts someone,
if my child is in trouble, I don't want to
wait till, you know, they get arrested and then try
for murder and then wait for them to reent to
to then give them a second chance. I want my
child to have a first chance as early as pre
(08:40):
school to make sure that they do have the skills
that they need so they're not responding and we're not reactionary.
Speaker 1 (08:50):
Sure, you are well known for the Mother's Day Work
Walk for Peace and this year's theme is cultivating cycles
of Peace. So how did you settle on that theme
and what is that mean?
Speaker 2 (09:00):
To you. I wish I could take credit. I'm filled
with a bunch of young people who again their mind,
they're they're always going and we've all and again who
Lewis was, we're always promoting the violence, the problems. We
want to stop the violence. You know, it's cultivating cycles
(09:23):
of violence. Yet for us, we have to put something
in its place. For the past thirty years, you know,
we've had promotions stopping the violence, you know, stopping gun violence,
stopping gang violence. Well, if you don't put something in
its place, it's going to come back. And this is
what we are thirty years later. So for us, if
(09:44):
we're cultivating cycles of violence, well let's shift that narrative
and let's cultivate cycles of peace. Let peace be rooted,
let peace be what we're talking about it, and let
peace be apt of our culture. And so I cannot
own that is this young generation that again again is
(10:07):
shifting their narrative because we wait till young people are
caught up in the problem and we're not putting enough
emphasis on the solution and the work that they are doing.
Speaker 1 (10:19):
And do you feel, you know, do you feel like
people are listening to that message these days? Obviously we
live in a very divided world right now, and we're
in a city that I think has a very strong community.
Do you think overall that message of peace over violence
is winning out? And what can we do to try
and make sure that that does happen?
Speaker 2 (10:38):
You know, I have to stay positive, I really really
do that message of peace, that peace will prevail, especially
during these turbulent times, During these times of uncertainty, we
continue to promote the negative, the heart, the trauma, the pain,
the racism, the hatred that's out there for us. We
(11:01):
have to continue to promote the love, the unity, the faith,
the hope, that courage, the justice and their forgiveness forgive
people who have done wrong so that we can continue
to move forward. And so for me, yes, I do
believe that it is catching on. It is changing. Why
(11:22):
because of the work that we're doing within the city
of Boston. We're a part of the n Monument working
with the arts and culture creating peace trails. So even
along the walk with the Principles of Peace are artists
and resident Ruth Henry and some of the young people
at Madison Park, at some of the schools that we're
working in. Films gone across roads collaborative. It's taking these
(11:47):
principles of peace and we're bringing them to light. You know,
when a homicide happens, you normally would see teddy bears
on light poles and then they get wet and soggy.
Well with and transforming, that narrative has shifted. So instead
of teddy bears on the polls, we're creating principles of
(12:08):
peace on these poles, so that again we want to
create peace pole trails around the city of Boston and
in every neighborhood, so it doesn't matter who that person is.
Instead of this is where they were killed, this is
where they die. Instead of it being a negative space,
it'll be something that as a community we are saying,
(12:29):
we are reclaiming. We're not going to continue to the
message of where murder happens. We want to say this
is where we are going to reclaim, this space where
peace is possible beautiful.
Speaker 1 (12:42):
So let's talk about your campaign for peace, because this
is leading up to something really really big here. Again,
you've been around thirty years, you are opening up a center.
Tell me about the center, Tell me about your campaign.
I want to hear all about this.
Speaker 2 (12:58):
Yes, So again I'm a vision, we believe it or not.
Speaker 1 (13:01):
Oh, I believe it.
Speaker 2 (13:01):
You don't ask me how, Don't ask me when I
just see a vision. So this has been going for
thirty years. When we first started the Peace Institute, all
we wanted in my back head literally where I live.
The city owns two empty lots, and all we wanted
because remember we started with the Lewis D. Brown Peace
(13:22):
Curriculum teaching the value of peace to literature and community
service learning. So all we wanted to do was a
little too by foot to recreate his room and eight
by ten, so when the students were learning about him,
they would come and visit his room, see his books,
see his matchbox, his caps, all his collections, see his
(13:44):
dirty room, so that they can again make that connection
with them. Oh, I am Lewis Brown. You know, we
learn about doctor King, JFK, Malcolm x Gandhi, all of
these amazing leaders, but we learn about them when they're older.
This is a way of learning about Lewis that is
their own age. And so it's been thirty years since
(14:07):
we've been trying to create this small little space, and
thirty years later again working with each administration and then
working with our then City councilor Andrea Campbell District four,
where she was sick and tired of all the empty lots,
and then she gave us some lists of the empty
(14:28):
lots and we found thirty Westfield Street, literally across from
the school where the three of my children attended, the
John Marshall. Now it's called up Academy. So we have
an eighteen thousand square footage we're building. I'm on a
twenty five million dollar campaign to build a center of healing, teaching,
(14:49):
and learning. And it's perfect because it's what the city
consider us one of the most violent neighborhood in the city.
My backyard, four Corners, And again that's transforming that narrative.
If you say it's a hotspot, we want to turn
it into a pie zone. We want to cool that down.
So we feel the center is exactly you know that space.
(15:14):
So it's a vacant law that we plan to transforme
a hub of healing and education, and it promises to
drive positive change and impact into four Corners. Full Corners
is now being revitalized. We are the community, we call
it the forgotten community. Yet there's so many amazing work
that's happening in the greater Full Corners area, and this
(15:37):
institute will be at that center, and it will also
serve as a catalyst of transforming societies perceptions on communities
of color. You know, will also serve as a place
where others from across the state and across the country
come to learn. It's a center of healing, teaching, and learning.
(15:58):
I'm considered a subject matter experts and I travel. Now
it's time for people to come to see this center.
And it's four goals. We're gonna build a center. We're
gonna scale our programs and services. We're gonna lead the
movement of peace, and we're gonna grow our organization capacity
for sustainability.
Speaker 1 (16:18):
You will be giving the community a place to come
together and learn about each other, talk to each other.
You've got meditation spaces here, You've got meeting spaces and
auditorium you can put on productions, classrooms. I mean, this
is all about fostering community so people can't help but
grow to learn about each other and hopefully start to
(16:39):
bridge those gaps that lead to these rifts and these
problems and create that peaceful connection.
Speaker 2 (16:46):
Yeah, we have and it's happening yet. Though I'll say
this Nicole. While we have I call them peace vestors.
I don't want to say donors or investors. I call
them peacevesters because we want again the people that have
the capacity to make this happen. We do need that
twenty five million dollars. We have some peace investors. But again,
(17:09):
this campaign is being led by four coaches, Donella Clark,
doctor Peter Marciacos, doctor Keith Martley, and Rick Shane. So
they are really moving this opening doors for us and
we have campaign cabinets, honorary cabinets. What's hard to do
is for again, and I'm going to say an immigrant
(17:30):
women of color to raise funds, you know, because while
we have people investing in US, it's still hard for
people to graft and understand, we are not looking to
stop gunning again. Violence, that's not who we are. Violence
is universal. It is not a black issue. No, Now
(17:52):
I was white saying I want to help, you know,
communities in urban settings, the investment will come a lot quicker. Yeah,
you know, we still have to prove well what are
you going to do with this and how are you
going to get the money. And it's like, wait a minute,
thirty years, thirty years of really being here. I want
(18:14):
to set the table for you to say I want
to invest in this se.
Speaker 1 (18:18):
You've done the work. I mean, people know what you've
done already.
Speaker 2 (18:23):
And though we're looking into though, and I also know
in this world of fundraising, is somebody who knows somebody
who knows somebody who knows somebody to cause somebody to say,
you know what, I'm investing in this. It's not easy
for you, don't understand, because they're doing this holistic approach.
It's not one size fit all. We're looking at what
(18:47):
the research the data tells us. In order to address
the issue of violence, intervention must happen at multiple level
of course, and that's the work that we're doing. And
so while we are excited, you know, we are very
We have pre planning and design two million dollars. We
need another six million to just now really dig the hole.
(19:08):
So our goal is by I'm going to say this
fall beginning of early FY twenty six, we will have
that full seventeen million dollars to then build a center.
The other eight million will be more for programs and
services and then you know, just our sustainability. But right
(19:29):
now our goal is seventeen million dollars and we have
a pathway, and so we're going to start really now,
we're going to really need to begin to bring it
up because we don't fit the traditional campaign capital campaign,
We've never fit the traditional So well, we have, you know,
great consultants, we also know Boston. We also know that
(19:52):
it's the community that has sustained us. So we've got
to do what we have to do and really say
to the community, all right, let's get your dollars, let's
stop your dollars, and then we can show the funders, look,
this is where we need you. And also a lot
of them are saying they don't come in in the beginning,
(20:13):
they come in towards the end. And so that's not
my that's not my community. I don't understand rich people.
I don't understand why they do what they do, and
it's not for me to ask them. My hope is
and my goal is and you know, I'm going to
say this, this is already ordained. I walk by faith
and not by sight that somebody at some point will saying,
(20:38):
you know what I'm interested in that I want to
learn more and I want to hear more. So one
of the things we're doing is I'm beginning to create events.
This year is my year of being outside. Okay, that's
an urban settings is, you know, being out there more
and creating this event of setting the table. I'm going
(20:58):
to set the table and people, let's just have conversation.
And it's the menu. What are you interested? You know,
what what's the flavor? What's your taste? By calling you
for and if you're interested in investing, great, If not,
who do you know that you think might be interesting
and investing again in transforming the narrative because once we invest,
(21:22):
once the center is there, it's going to be a
game changer for Boston. And this is also a line
of the city's.
Speaker 1 (21:29):
Plan well, and this is going to be a place
for everybody you know. And no amount I'm sure is
too small here. I talk to a lot of nonprofits
and they say this all the time. Even if you
only have five, ten, fifteen, twenty dollars, nobody has any
money right now. Like I get that, you know, none
of us going shopping is hard, Inflation is high, but
even that little bit, you have a lot of people
(21:49):
around the community throwing in five, ten, fifteen, twenty bucks.
It adds up and then when it's all done, then
you show up and you say, I helped with this,
this is mine, Yes, this is part of mine because
this is somewhere I can be proud of because I
helped to make this happen.
Speaker 2 (22:06):
My daughter contributed to that. And so yeah, we have
we want to make sure that everyday people can see
that they were a part of this, and especially within
the community for them to invest. We also have you know,
nading opportunities for those that can give two million and more,
yeah or you know, so we do have those, yet
(22:27):
we're working at that level while at the same time
making sure that we show who sustained that. And it
has been the community that has sustained us in addition
to those who have really invested in our work for
the past thirty years. And that's our board members, you know,
our donors, our community, and then our faith community, our hospitals.
(22:51):
So the people that can be a part of this
are our I mean, it's a multitude of people. And
we now thirty years later, we're investing in our marketing
and branding because people see us know us for the
walk and they know us for responding and so now
(23:12):
this will be a center that even when I transition,
if I'm not doing this anymore, the work is still continuing.
So we are just excited. We're just really excited about
this whole. I can't believe that we're building a center
after thirty years. So Nicole, it's also bittersweet, right, you know,
(23:35):
it's really bitter sweet to think a life, a young life,
was struck down in this prime and here we are
thirty years later. And for me, that's the commitment that
I have for the city. It's not about me. It's
about saying we cannot continue to blame young people.
Speaker 1 (23:55):
Well, and it's a mother's love as well, because I
think it's all in a mother's This is testament to
a mother's love. Because I'm sure Lewis is incredibly proud
of you in the work you do, and he guides
you through this work every day. You know, you're a
woman of faith. I understand that. So yes, you know,
I'm sure he is. He's keeping an eye on you
and directing you and helping you and supporting you and
(24:16):
all this. But a mother's love is untouched. Trust me.
Speaker 2 (24:18):
It's really fun. Like they say, you know, we won't
move mountains, We won't move mountains.
Speaker 1 (24:24):
Yeah, yeah, how can people help you with your campaign
of peace? How can people donate? If they've got the chance,
they can help you? Name something like how can people
get involved here?
Speaker 2 (24:35):
You know, there are a few ways to get involved.
The first thing for me is check in. They can
go on the website Louis Dbrown pisistertoo dot org. Then
there's a campaign for peace. We'll working on really creating
our own website for the campaign. But again, we don't
want people to go to too many places to see things.
They can join our campaign committee, our host committee, or
(24:57):
our honorary committee. They can make a donation. They can
also say, hey, I want to work with you to
host a setting the table. I want to invite some
of my friends. You don't know them, but I know
what you do, and I'm solxy and I want to
invite some of my friends for just us to sit
at the table and have a conversation. They can call
(25:20):
in and say, look, I don't have any money yet,
I do know someone who knows someone who knows someone.
Let's see if we can get you in front of
them and let's see if they can invest. And just
really being in a space of wanting to be of service,
you know, just wanting to be of service and helping
(25:43):
us to shift that narrative again. Building the center, investing
in it, you will see a return on your investment,
and we want it to be you know, with us.
When something happens in the suburbs, everybody's saying, these things
don't happen here. Well, people are dealing with violence and
(26:03):
mental health issues. It knows no boundaries, it knows no color,
it knows no culture, it knows no communities. And so
for us, what my neighbors have in Brookline and Newton,
we want to build that in Dorchester, in Roxbury and
Mattapan in the South End, we want to have that.
What divides us is, you know, are poor? I'm poor,
(26:30):
you know, financially yes, yes, Spiritually I am rich because
we are filled with very diverse and so that's what
I want us to see. I want us to look
at what unites us, especially during these times, rather than
what divides us.
Speaker 1 (26:45):
You're here all right, Well one more time. What's your
website again? So people can find you? How can people
access this?
Speaker 2 (26:52):
Yes, so the website is LdB Ellis and Lewis Diaz
and David Vias and Brown Peace Institute Org. Okay, or
they can join the Mothers they walk for Peace Mothers
Day walk the number four piece dot org. They can
join us, they can walk, they don't have to walk.
They can go and sign up to support a team
(27:15):
or make a donation. Every dollar counts.
Speaker 1 (27:18):
This is just such exciting work. I'm so excited for you,
and I really hope that you're able to get this
off the ground and I guess get the whole Doug
in the ground for all this to get started.
Speaker 2 (27:29):
Yes, well, we hope we keep you guys updated. So
while we're digging, you guys are still a part of this.
Speaker 1 (27:34):
Absolutely we will be there. So thank you for your
time today. I appreciate it.
Speaker 2 (27:37):
All right, have a blessed one, have a safe.
Speaker 1 (27:40):
And healthy weekend. Please join me again next week for
another edition of the show. I'm Nicole Davis from WBZ
News Radio on iHeartRadio.
From WBZ News Radio in Boston. This is New England Weekend.
Each week we come together here and talk about all
the topics important to you and the place where you live.
Thanks for joining us again. I'm Nicole Davis. Losing a
family member to gun violence, like a spouse or a child,
can be devastating and rock your world. After Clementina Sherry's
(00:27):
teenage son, Louis D. Brown was gunned down, she channeled
her grief and pain into change for her community. In
nineteen ninety four, she created the Lewis D. Brown Peace Institute.
Ever since, Sherry has been working with the city residents, lawmakers,
and many others building peace, boosting local services for families
impacted like she was, and working to stop that violence
(00:48):
from breaking out in the first place. Now, the Institute
wants to expand its work and they want to do
this with the new Center for Healing, Teaching and Learning
in Dorchester. Let's find out a bit more about that.
Founder Clementina Sherry is here with us now. Chaplain Sherry,
thank you so much for your time. I know you're
a very busy woman. I'd love to start with a
bit more detailed history about the institute namely how you
(01:09):
came up with the idea out of all that grief
and how it got to the point where today almost
thirty years later, thirty years plus, actually you're doing all
this great work.
Speaker 2 (01:18):
Thank you. So the Piece Institute was named after my
fifteen year old son, Lewis Brown, who was caught on
a crossfire December twentieth of nineteen ninety three as he
left his house at three fifteen in the afternoon to
go to the train station for a meeting of the
group that he belonged to, Teens Against Gang Violence. I
(01:38):
tell people that Dave Lewis was killed. It's the day
that I woke up and I needed to find a
way to channel my pain and anger and to find
in my purpose inter action. So the Peace Institute was
birth in nineteen ninety four.
Speaker 1 (01:55):
Okay, and then what do you do now here in
twenty twenty five. Will tell me a little bit about
work around the city and how you help other kids
and families around the city as we try to deal
with this epidemic of gun violence.
Speaker 2 (02:07):
Thank you for that. So for us, you know, our
work is centered with three different pillars. First's programs and
services working with families on both sides of homicide, responding,
responding to the families whose love ones have been murdered
and also families who are in prisoned for murder. Really
(02:30):
making sure that we are working at both ends because
that psycholop retaliatory violence is present and well, the other
part of our work with families, programs and services is
also equipping what we call Generation Piece teaching the value
of peace so that we are giving them the tools
(02:50):
today so that they can be the architect of their
own healing, that they're not waiting until the problem happens
to the talk about peace. So right now we're in
incorporating the seven principles of peace, love, unity, faith, hope, courage, justice,
and forgiveness. They are peacemakers. We're calling them Generation Peace.
(03:13):
And then you know, through our advocacy and awareness, you know,
really looking at how do we impact inform an influence policy.
We can do this work, but if we don't create
policy that is sustainable, then we're just going to keep
spinning our wheels on. And then our third pillar is
(03:33):
training and education. We are not looking to recreate Peace Institute.
Everybody wants to be national for us. There's so many
groups and programs that are within our city, in our state,
and across the country. We want to train, we develop
best practices. We've had publications, tools, we want to transfer
(03:54):
our knowledge so whether the homicide happens, families do not
have to figure out way to go, what to turn
best practices on serving families impacted by the murder, or
our hospitals, our police department, our frontline practitioners have the
tools that they need to make sure families do not
(04:14):
have to go through this alone.
Speaker 1 (04:16):
It's been more than thirty years since you started the institute,
and Boston Mayor Michelle wou often says that Boston is
one of the safest cities in the country, if not
the safest city in the country. Gun violence is significantly
down in Boston. Our homicide rate is down. Do you
feel like the work that you have been doing at
the Institute has contributed to that? And where do you
(04:36):
see the city going?
Speaker 2 (04:38):
Oh? Yeah, I mean we really we're learning to take
credit for that. And actually, you know, Nicole, we have
been in every mayor's report of city. I'll go back
in nineteen ninety six, then the late mayor Tom Andino.
There was a report issued by then Attorney General Janet
Reno that the Lewis d Round Peace Curriculum was one
(05:01):
of the programs that contributed to the reduction of juvenile
crime in the City of Boston. We were teaching peace
through literature and community service learning. We're students, we are
then published, published authors. So we're going to claim that
and we've claimed that and shiated Yes. Today we are
taking credit because again we are an integral part of
(05:25):
the City of Boston. Homicide response protocol doesn't matter where
our homicide happens, the Mayor's office, the Police Department, our hospitals.
We are partner with the neighborhood. It was Boston Trump
Neighborhood Trauma Response Network, now it's Neighborhood Healing Response Network.
(05:46):
That's the name. And so really when a homicide happens,
we are making sure that the families one don't have
to do go fund me in two. They are connected
right now. If they die at the hospital, the hospital
refers them to our Survivors Outreach Services manager. If they
die on the street, the Boston Police Department Victims Witness
(06:09):
Resource make sure they come in. And then if they
got through the police involved shootings, either the community neighbors,
other survivors will make sure that family is connected. And
this is the baby. You can't see it, but this
is the tool that are part of the standard of
tear with each department within our city government to make
(06:32):
sure families know what to do in that first twenty
four to seventy two hours. So yes, we celebrate, we acknowledge,
and as a reminder that we still have a lot
of work to do because the response to homicide it's
still not institutionalized as every other issues within our city.
(06:57):
So that's the goal again and that we started with
Mayor Menino, Muddywash Kim Janey, and now our goal is
to make sure that with this administration, it doesn't matter
who is in this position, that homicide response is an
integral part of the City of Boston.
Speaker 1 (07:15):
And not just the response, but tackling the factors that
lead up to these incidents as well, working with our
young people, working with our families, making sure they have
the resources they need to prevent gang violence and to
prevent gun violence. And you're doing a great job in
that as well.
Speaker 2 (07:31):
And again, thank you for that. And you know, for us,
it is really that you know, we really started, you know,
really to teach the values piece. Our goal is to
focus on the assets of community and then to transform
the way society responds. So we are looking at it
what's called community violence intervention. That's the new framework. So
(07:54):
it's not just working on one side. We're working at
multiple levels to yeah address the issue and to make
sure we're equipping our young people. Because you know, there's
a quote and I don't know who took the quote
with for to hurt people, hurt people, heal people, heal people.
And so for me is what would I want? What
(08:18):
if my child is hurting someone, If my child hurts someone,
if my child is in trouble, I don't want to
wait till, you know, they get arrested and then try
for murder and then wait for them to reent to
to then give them a second chance. I want my
child to have a first chance as early as pre
(08:40):
school to make sure that they do have the skills
that they need so they're not responding and we're not reactionary.
Speaker 1 (08:50):
Sure, you are well known for the Mother's Day Work
Walk for Peace and this year's theme is cultivating cycles
of Peace. So how did you settle on that theme
and what is that mean?
Speaker 2 (09:00):
To you. I wish I could take credit. I'm filled
with a bunch of young people who again their mind,
they're they're always going and we've all and again who
Lewis was, we're always promoting the violence, the problems. We
want to stop the violence. You know, it's cultivating cycles
(09:23):
of violence. Yet for us, we have to put something
in its place. For the past thirty years, you know,
we've had promotions stopping the violence, you know, stopping gun violence,
stopping gang violence. Well, if you don't put something in
its place, it's going to come back. And this is
what we are thirty years later. So for us, if
(09:44):
we're cultivating cycles of violence, well let's shift that narrative
and let's cultivate cycles of peace. Let peace be rooted,
let peace be what we're talking about it, and let
peace be apt of our culture. And so I cannot
own that is this young generation that again again is
(10:07):
shifting their narrative because we wait till young people are
caught up in the problem and we're not putting enough
emphasis on the solution and the work that they are doing.
Speaker 1 (10:19):
And do you feel, you know, do you feel like
people are listening to that message these days? Obviously we
live in a very divided world right now, and we're
in a city that I think has a very strong community.
Do you think overall that message of peace over violence
is winning out? And what can we do to try
and make sure that that does happen?
Speaker 2 (10:38):
You know, I have to stay positive, I really really
do that message of peace, that peace will prevail, especially
during these turbulent times, During these times of uncertainty, we
continue to promote the negative, the heart, the trauma, the pain,
the racism, the hatred that's out there for us. We
(11:01):
have to continue to promote the love, the unity, the faith,
the hope, that courage, the justice and their forgiveness forgive
people who have done wrong so that we can continue
to move forward. And so for me, yes, I do
believe that it is catching on. It is changing. Why
(11:22):
because of the work that we're doing within the city
of Boston. We're a part of the n Monument working
with the arts and culture creating peace trails. So even
along the walk with the Principles of Peace are artists
and resident Ruth Henry and some of the young people
at Madison Park, at some of the schools that we're
working in. Films gone across roads collaborative. It's taking these
(11:47):
principles of peace and we're bringing them to light. You know,
when a homicide happens, you normally would see teddy bears
on light poles and then they get wet and soggy.
Well with and transforming, that narrative has shifted. So instead
of teddy bears on the polls, we're creating principles of
(12:08):
peace on these poles, so that again we want to
create peace pole trails around the city of Boston and
in every neighborhood, so it doesn't matter who that person is.
Instead of this is where they were killed, this is
where they die. Instead of it being a negative space,
it'll be something that as a community we are saying,
(12:29):
we are reclaiming. We're not going to continue to the
message of where murder happens. We want to say this
is where we are going to reclaim, this space where
peace is possible beautiful.
Speaker 1 (12:42):
So let's talk about your campaign for peace, because this
is leading up to something really really big here. Again,
you've been around thirty years, you are opening up a center.
Tell me about the center, Tell me about your campaign.
I want to hear all about this.
Speaker 2 (12:58):
Yes, So again I'm a vision, we believe it or not.
Speaker 1 (13:01):
Oh, I believe it.
Speaker 2 (13:01):
You don't ask me how, Don't ask me when I
just see a vision. So this has been going for
thirty years. When we first started the Peace Institute, all
we wanted in my back head literally where I live.
The city owns two empty lots, and all we wanted
because remember we started with the Lewis D. Brown Peace
(13:22):
Curriculum teaching the value of peace to literature and community
service learning. So all we wanted to do was a
little too by foot to recreate his room and eight
by ten, so when the students were learning about him,
they would come and visit his room, see his books,
see his matchbox, his caps, all his collections, see his
(13:44):
dirty room, so that they can again make that connection
with them. Oh, I am Lewis Brown. You know, we
learn about doctor King, JFK, Malcolm x Gandhi, all of
these amazing leaders, but we learn about them when they're older.
This is a way of learning about Lewis that is
their own age. And so it's been thirty years since
(14:07):
we've been trying to create this small little space, and
thirty years later again working with each administration and then
working with our then City councilor Andrea Campbell District four,
where she was sick and tired of all the empty lots,
and then she gave us some lists of the empty
(14:28):
lots and we found thirty Westfield Street, literally across from
the school where the three of my children attended, the
John Marshall. Now it's called up Academy. So we have
an eighteen thousand square footage we're building. I'm on a
twenty five million dollar campaign to build a center of healing, teaching,
(14:49):
and learning. And it's perfect because it's what the city
consider us one of the most violent neighborhood in the city.
My backyard, four Corners, And again that's transforming that narrative.
If you say it's a hotspot, we want to turn
it into a pie zone. We want to cool that down.
So we feel the center is exactly you know that space.
(15:14):
So it's a vacant law that we plan to transforme
a hub of healing and education, and it promises to
drive positive change and impact into four Corners. Full Corners
is now being revitalized. We are the community, we call
it the forgotten community. Yet there's so many amazing work
that's happening in the greater Full Corners area, and this
(15:37):
institute will be at that center, and it will also
serve as a catalyst of transforming societies perceptions on communities
of color. You know, will also serve as a place
where others from across the state and across the country
come to learn. It's a center of healing, teaching, and learning.
(15:58):
I'm considered a subject matter experts and I travel. Now
it's time for people to come to see this center.
And it's four goals. We're gonna build a center. We're
gonna scale our programs and services. We're gonna lead the
movement of peace, and we're gonna grow our organization capacity
for sustainability.
Speaker 1 (16:18):
You will be giving the community a place to come
together and learn about each other, talk to each other.
You've got meditation spaces here, You've got meeting spaces and
auditorium you can put on productions, classrooms. I mean, this
is all about fostering community so people can't help but
grow to learn about each other and hopefully start to
(16:39):
bridge those gaps that lead to these rifts and these
problems and create that peaceful connection.
Speaker 2 (16:46):
Yeah, we have and it's happening yet. Though I'll say
this Nicole. While we have I call them peace vestors.
I don't want to say donors or investors. I call
them peacevesters because we want again the people that have
the capacity to make this happen. We do need that
twenty five million dollars. We have some peace investors. But again,
(17:09):
this campaign is being led by four coaches, Donella Clark,
doctor Peter Marciacos, doctor Keith Martley, and Rick Shane. So
they are really moving this opening doors for us and
we have campaign cabinets, honorary cabinets. What's hard to do
is for again, and I'm going to say an immigrant
(17:30):
women of color to raise funds, you know, because while
we have people investing in US, it's still hard for
people to graft and understand, we are not looking to
stop gunning again. Violence, that's not who we are. Violence
is universal. It is not a black issue. No, Now
(17:52):
I was white saying I want to help, you know,
communities in urban settings, the investment will come a lot quicker. Yeah,
you know, we still have to prove well what are
you going to do with this and how are you
going to get the money. And it's like, wait a minute,
thirty years, thirty years of really being here. I want
(18:14):
to set the table for you to say I want
to invest in this se.
Speaker 1 (18:18):
You've done the work. I mean, people know what you've
done already.
Speaker 2 (18:23):
And though we're looking into though, and I also know
in this world of fundraising, is somebody who knows somebody
who knows somebody who knows somebody to cause somebody to say,
you know what, I'm investing in this. It's not easy
for you, don't understand, because they're doing this holistic approach.
It's not one size fit all. We're looking at what
(18:47):
the research the data tells us. In order to address
the issue of violence, intervention must happen at multiple level
of course, and that's the work that we're doing. And
so while we are excited, you know, we are very
We have pre planning and design two million dollars. We
need another six million to just now really dig the hole.
(19:08):
So our goal is by I'm going to say this
fall beginning of early FY twenty six, we will have
that full seventeen million dollars to then build a center.
The other eight million will be more for programs and
services and then you know, just our sustainability. But right
(19:29):
now our goal is seventeen million dollars and we have
a pathway, and so we're going to start really now,
we're going to really need to begin to bring it
up because we don't fit the traditional campaign capital campaign,
We've never fit the traditional So well, we have, you know,
great consultants, we also know Boston. We also know that
(19:52):
it's the community that has sustained us. So we've got
to do what we have to do and really say
to the community, all right, let's get your dollars, let's
stop your dollars, and then we can show the funders, look,
this is where we need you. And also a lot
of them are saying they don't come in in the beginning,
(20:13):
they come in towards the end. And so that's not
my that's not my community. I don't understand rich people.
I don't understand why they do what they do, and
it's not for me to ask them. My hope is
and my goal is and you know, I'm going to
say this, this is already ordained. I walk by faith
and not by sight that somebody at some point will saying,
(20:38):
you know what I'm interested in that I want to
learn more and I want to hear more. So one
of the things we're doing is I'm beginning to create events.
This year is my year of being outside. Okay, that's
an urban settings is, you know, being out there more
and creating this event of setting the table. I'm going
(20:58):
to set the table and people, let's just have conversation.
And it's the menu. What are you interested? You know,
what what's the flavor? What's your taste? By calling you
for and if you're interested in investing, great, If not,
who do you know that you think might be interesting
and investing again in transforming the narrative because once we invest,
(21:22):
once the center is there, it's going to be a
game changer for Boston. And this is also a line
of the city's.
Speaker 1 (21:29):
Plan well, and this is going to be a place
for everybody you know. And no amount I'm sure is
too small here. I talk to a lot of nonprofits
and they say this all the time. Even if you
only have five, ten, fifteen, twenty dollars, nobody has any
money right now. Like I get that, you know, none
of us going shopping is hard, Inflation is high, but
even that little bit, you have a lot of people
(21:49):
around the community throwing in five, ten, fifteen, twenty bucks.
It adds up and then when it's all done, then
you show up and you say, I helped with this,
this is mine, Yes, this is part of mine because
this is somewhere I can be proud of because I
helped to make this happen.
Speaker 2 (22:06):
My daughter contributed to that. And so yeah, we have
we want to make sure that everyday people can see
that they were a part of this, and especially within
the community for them to invest. We also have you know,
nading opportunities for those that can give two million and more,
yeah or you know, so we do have those, yet
(22:27):
we're working at that level while at the same time
making sure that we show who sustained that. And it
has been the community that has sustained us in addition
to those who have really invested in our work for
the past thirty years. And that's our board members, you know,
our donors, our community, and then our faith community, our hospitals.
(22:51):
So the people that can be a part of this
are our I mean, it's a multitude of people. And
we now thirty years later, we're investing in our marketing
and branding because people see us know us for the
walk and they know us for responding and so now
(23:12):
this will be a center that even when I transition,
if I'm not doing this anymore, the work is still continuing.
So we are just excited. We're just really excited about
this whole. I can't believe that we're building a center
after thirty years. So Nicole, it's also bittersweet, right, you know,
(23:35):
it's really bitter sweet to think a life, a young life,
was struck down in this prime and here we are
thirty years later. And for me, that's the commitment that
I have for the city. It's not about me. It's
about saying we cannot continue to blame young people.
Speaker 1 (23:55):
Well, and it's a mother's love as well, because I
think it's all in a mother's This is testament to
a mother's love. Because I'm sure Lewis is incredibly proud
of you in the work you do, and he guides
you through this work every day. You know, you're a
woman of faith. I understand that. So yes, you know,
I'm sure he is. He's keeping an eye on you
and directing you and helping you and supporting you and
(24:16):
all this. But a mother's love is untouched. Trust me.
Speaker 2 (24:18):
It's really fun. Like they say, you know, we won't
move mountains, We won't move mountains.
Speaker 1 (24:24):
Yeah, yeah, how can people help you with your campaign
of peace? How can people donate? If they've got the chance,
they can help you? Name something like how can people
get involved here?
Speaker 2 (24:35):
You know, there are a few ways to get involved.
The first thing for me is check in. They can
go on the website Louis Dbrown pisistertoo dot org. Then
there's a campaign for peace. We'll working on really creating
our own website for the campaign. But again, we don't
want people to go to too many places to see things.
They can join our campaign committee, our host committee, or
(24:57):
our honorary committee. They can make a donation. They can
also say, hey, I want to work with you to
host a setting the table. I want to invite some
of my friends. You don't know them, but I know
what you do, and I'm solxy and I want to
invite some of my friends for just us to sit
at the table and have a conversation. They can call
(25:20):
in and say, look, I don't have any money yet,
I do know someone who knows someone who knows someone.
Let's see if we can get you in front of
them and let's see if they can invest. And just
really being in a space of wanting to be of service,
you know, just wanting to be of service and helping
(25:43):
us to shift that narrative again. Building the center, investing
in it, you will see a return on your investment,
and we want it to be you know, with us.
When something happens in the suburbs, everybody's saying, these things
don't happen here. Well, people are dealing with violence and
(26:03):
mental health issues. It knows no boundaries, it knows no color,
it knows no culture, it knows no communities. And so
for us, what my neighbors have in Brookline and Newton,
we want to build that in Dorchester, in Roxbury and
Mattapan in the South End, we want to have that.
What divides us is, you know, are poor? I'm poor,
(26:30):
you know, financially yes, yes, Spiritually I am rich because
we are filled with very diverse and so that's what
I want us to see. I want us to look
at what unites us, especially during these times, rather than
what divides us.
Speaker 1 (26:45):
You're here all right, Well one more time. What's your
website again? So people can find you? How can people
access this?
Speaker 2 (26:52):
Yes, so the website is LdB Ellis and Lewis Diaz
and David Vias and Brown Peace Institute Org. Okay, or
they can join the Mothers they walk for Peace Mothers
Day walk the number four piece dot org. They can
join us, they can walk, they don't have to walk.
They can go and sign up to support a team
(27:15):
or make a donation. Every dollar counts.
Speaker 1 (27:18):
This is just such exciting work. I'm so excited for you,
and I really hope that you're able to get this
off the ground and I guess get the whole Doug
in the ground for all this to get started.
Speaker 2 (27:29):
Yes, well, we hope we keep you guys updated. So
while we're digging, you guys are still a part of this.
Speaker 1 (27:34):
Absolutely we will be there. So thank you for your
time today. I appreciate it.
Speaker 2 (27:37):
All right, have a blessed one, have a safe.
Speaker 1 (27:40):
And healthy weekend. Please join me again next week for
another edition of the show. I'm Nicole Davis from WBZ
News Radio on iHeartRadio.
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