March, summit aim to unite community in tackling juvenile violence

Free, family-friendly events set to take place today

Two local groups are teaming up today for a pair of events as a part of a community-wide effort to curb violence and uplift youth in El Dorado and surrounding areas.

Evergreen Baptist Church is leading the charge with Operation Takeback: Community Empowerment Summit, which is set for 5 p.m. today in Memorial Stadium.

Preceding the event at 3 p.m. will be a march organized by Parents United Against Youth Violence, a local nonprofit organization.

Both events are free and the community is encouraged to participate.

Operation Takeback will include free food and beverages, fellowship and fun.

Community leaders, local public-school officials, law enforcement officers and more will serve as guest speakers.

“They will have a chance to talk for a few minutes and share their knowledge, what they know and what they see in their areas of expertise,” said Pastor Marilyn Frazier of Evergreen.

El Dorado and sister cities Camden and Magnolia have all reported a rise in violent crime involving juveniles within the past three years and in recent months, there has been a surge in reports of youth-related shootings, some resulting in homicides, within the Golden Triangle.

Frazier said Evergreen is looking to do its part in a community-wide coalition to reverse that trend in El Dorado.

“It’s really going to take a citywide effort to reach children that need redirecting. They need somebody to talk to them and encourage them to do something positive with their lives,” she said.

SouthArk and other groups will also be on hand during the summit to share information about resources that are available for pursuing a high-school diploma versus a GED, attending college and starting a business.

“We hope this really will redirect young people in the community and change their minds about violence and give them the determination to stop the violence,” said Frazier.

Anna Ford of Parents United Against Youth Violence said that when the nonprofit heard about the summit, members leapt at the chance partner with Evergreen.

PUAYV has planned a peace march that will begin at 3 p.m. in Arlington Memorial Park/Woodlawn Cemetery in the area of North Mosby and Champagnolle Road and proceed to Memorial Stadium for

the summit. Marchers will sing, pray and chant, said Ford.

She also said the group has been selling and distributing T-shirts bearing the term “code red.” Participants who purchase T-shirts are encouraged to wear them today.

“‘Code red’ means we’re in a state of emergency of what’s been going on with violence in El Dorado and surrounding cities,” Ford explained.

Recent acts of violence that have been reported in the city, including the shooting death of a 16-year-old boy in late April, prompted PUAYV to step up its efforts in addressing violence in the community and offering support to local residents who are affected by violence.

“We had enough of saying, ‘Sorry for your loss and we’ll pray for you.’ Prayer is great but prayer without action is just that,” Ford said, adding that proceeds from T-shirt sales are poured back into PUAYV coffers to help families whose lives have been changed by violence.

Frazier and Ford said the events that their respective groups are presenting today will not be a one-off.

“God has led us to expand this into something more than just marching one time. We’re going to try to do this every three months,” said Ford. “Anyone who feels like they want to be a support system and stand up to the violence in the community, they can join us.”

Frazier made similar statements.

“It’s going to take all of us, the whole city — the ones who want to do it. It needs to be an ongoing thing. Once a year is not enough,” she said.

Local resident Nathan Rainey Sr., who has lost two sons to gun violence, is involved with both groups and others in the community with a similar mission.

Rainey said he is committed to helping them to spread their message about the adverse and wide-ranging effects that violence has on the community.

Nathan Rainey Jr., 29, was killed in a shooting that occurred last August at Hillsboro Town House Apartments. Another son, 24-year-old Deddrick Williams, was fatally wounded in a shooting nearly 10 years ago in the 1200 block of North Miles.

Rainey Sr. participated in a Union County-Southern Airways (Express) Summer Breeze community party, which was held earlier this month in Mattocks Park, to serve the community and honor his sons.

He will be doing the same today, he said.

“When (Ford) reached out to me, I told her I will help anybody in any way that I can. I can share my experience of what it’s like to lose two sons to violence,” Rainey said.

For more information about the summit, call Frazier at 870310-4426, Sheila Banks at 870310-4790, Valarie Junior at 870814-9317.

To learn more about PUAYV, call Ford at 870-864-0034.