"The courage to listen", Rev. Jeffrew Brown and violence reduction

[Birgitta Schomaker]

Dear all,

I'd like share about the work of Rev. Jeffrew Brown who led a reduction of youth violence in Boston (USA) by 79%.

Here you can watch his impressive, moving and inspiring 30 minutes talk on how Rev. Brown got involved. I'm sharing this video here because Brown's effective approach to community development is very similar to what I understand SALT is about:

https://vimeo.com/187680298

He talks about how movements start.  Jeffrew asked himself why he should be the one taking initiative. And he realized: "Because I am the one that can not sleep at night." 

After approx. 18 minutes from the start, you will find out how his successful approach is similar to the SALT approach:

"We need to meet the youth where they are."  A street community started in the middle of the most violent area of town. 

"We decided to listen, and NOT preach. We said: "Talk to us, help to understand what we don't understand on the reality of life on the streets."

We stopped looking at them as the 'problem to be solved'. They became our partners. More collaborative partnerships started with clergy, law enforcement, city and community agencies, the private sector/business, etc.  

What was so miraculous that happened over 7 and a half years in Boston: "not (only) the reduction in youth homicides, but when the adults were able to come together and check their egos at the door."

For those interested in learning even more about Jeffrew Brown's organization's work, check out the following links:

http://www.mycityatpeace.com/ and http://www.thecouragetolisten.com/podcasts/