Following youth violence, Danbury resident plans ‘a day of love’
DANBURY — Following the death of a relative and other recent violent acts involving local youth, one resident is determined to bring the community together and invoke change.
Mallory Shanine looks to hold a “family reunionstyle” community gathering on Sept. 4 at Hatters Park to bring unity, awareness and guidance to Danbury residents.
After organizing a community prayer event following the drive-by shooting death of her cousin's 18year-old son Yhameek Johnson last year, Shanine wants to do something similar, but bigger, this year.
“I'm looking to go above and beyond,” the 34-yearold longtime Danbury resident said. “It's going to be a day where people can come out, come together, see what Danbury has to offer and bond together.”
Shanine said the event, which she's calling Big Love, is something that's “been on (her) heart” to do.
“Last year we did a prayer on Beaver Street because there was a lot going on,” she said. “There had been several deaths and incarcerations involving young people in the community.”
This year, Shanine said she decided to plan an event at Hatters Park off East Hayestown Road where people can “come together and support the community, especially the youth.”
“I thought it would be a better location — it's a more open and I guess ‘neutral territory' — and I think more people in the community might come out if it's there,” she said.
For the event, Shanine said she's started reaching out to local organizations, groups and businesses like grocery stores in search of donations, sponsorships and involvement — and although she hasn't heard back from any yet, she's hopeful that will change.
Shanine said it's important that there be community resources available at the event. She's reached out to the mayor, local organizations and the police chief, noting the police department helped out at last year's community prayer event on Beaver Street by setting up roadblocks.
“I wanted to let them know what's going on. They're pivotal to our community so I, of course, extended an invitation,” she said. “I really want to try and get everybody on board.”
Violence in Danbury
Shanine said recent acts of violence involving Danbury youth spurred her to hold last year's community prayer and start organizing the upcoming Big Love event.
A number of violent incidents — including the fatal stabbing at the City Center Skate Park in March 2020, fatal drive-by shooting in Mill Ridge in June 2021 and shooting at Chili's earlier this year — have been connected to an ongoing feud between two groups of young people.
According to police, the groups have been “shooting, assaulting, threatening and killing each other” in Danbury since at least January 2019.
“The incidents that have happened really put fire underneath my feet to try to find a way to help motivate the youth to go to someone, find a place or a different way of thinking,” she said.
While she believes those perpetrating the crimes need to take responsibility for their actions, Shanine said the community can do a better job of trying to address the struggles of young people and help them find constructive emotional outlets.
“I know what it's like to be a child and young adult without having anywhere to express how you're feeling,” she said. “You don't really know what to go off of, except what you're around and what you see, and it's really hard when you have no one to direct you in the right direction.”
Just as troubling as the strong, negative feelings teens harbor is the fact that many adults seem oblivious to it, Shanine said.
“A teenager shouldn't be that angry, upset and have that much aggression and the people in their lives have no knowledge of it. That's just ridiculous,” she said. “For me, as a parent and resident, it's worrisome that there are adults actively in these kids' lives, and yet no one's trying to stop it.”
Shanine said she believes social media plays a large role in the problems going on among Danbury's youth.
“Social media is one of the things that makes it difficult and has a lot to do with not knowing what's going on amongst these children,” she said. “I don't know how many adults are active with their children's social media, but I believe that's been one of the biggest problems of the whole thing.”
The prevalence of social media can make it hard to know what's going on in young people's lives nowadays, Shanine said, but it's important for parents to make an effort to be in the know.
“It's different now. There are so many influences with drugs, alcohol, keeping with appearances, selfimage issues and a kind of heightened sense of negativity all over social media,” she said. “There's so much going on, and we need to pay a lot more attention than we've been willing to pay.”
Trying to create change
With Big Love, Shanine said her goal is to bring some peace and unity in Danbury.
“I feel that it's my duty to society to get people to look at things from a different perspective, and I think the way to do that is reaching out to people with love,” she said.
Shanine said she hopes a lot of young people come to the event, and that other community members do the same to talk to the youth and show there are resources available to them.
Though the Big Love event will open and close with a community prayer, Shanine said she doesn't want that to deter people from attending.
“I will have someone do a prayer at the beginning and end of the event, but I don't want people to think it's just something for people who go to church or believe in God,” she said. “It's really just a day of love.”
Shanine said she's the mother of six children, believes in the importance of spreading love and makes it a point every day to “love each and every one” of her children in hopes that they will pass that love onto others.
“That's really what I want to do with this Big Love event,” she said.
Shanine said she's currently the event's sole organizer and has set aside some funds from her small business, Mal's Heart and Soul LLC, to pay for food and supplies for the event — but she would love to get some help.
“I have $500 saved for food and $200 saved for supplies, and now I'm trying to get others on board,” she said. “I'd also like to form a Big Love team, with the sponsors and everyone, so we can have one of these events every year.”
Shanine plans to hold the event from 1 to 6 p.m. Sept. 4.
Any individuals, organizations or community groups interested in getting involved with the Big Love event can contact Shanine at 203-512-8270 or malsheartandsoul@gmail.com.