CHICAGO — For Tyrone Slaughter, basketball coach at Whitney Young Magnet High School, healing from violence begins with an open and honest dialog.
"It's a phenomenal first step," he said. "Collectively, all of us at some point, have all spoken out against what we believe to be the problems in our community, but then we galvanize together as a group."
Slaughter is all too familiar with the need for these discussions, because on April 26, former basketball star Timothy Triplett, only 20 at the time, was found dead on an early Sunday afternoon, lying in the 3500 block of West Flournoy Street.
Triplett, of the 4400 block of W. Adams St., had been shot multiple times, police said.
In the aftermath of Triplett's death, basketball coaches from at least 10 area schools and community members united to begin discussions on how leadership in the neighborhood can help curb gun violence.
During the April 30 congregation at Breakthrough FamilyPlex, 3219 W. Carroll Ave., coaches from Westinghouse, Marshall, Farragut, North Lawndale College Prep, Whitney Young, Crane, Providence-St. Mel, Al Raby, Clemente and Collins high schools all convened in what Slaughter referred to as a "start-up meeting" in support for facing the reality of "violence that's ravishing our communities."
Slaughter said between 150-200 people attended the event, spanning a diverse range of families, cultures, ethnicities and ages.
"It was just kind of an introductory meeting to say that we all stand united behind any causes that can be generated to help curtail some of the violence," Slaughter said. "It was about us identifying what our needs for us are, and let the community know we coaches were going to stand together to eradicate these problems."
Among the proposed courses of action proposed during the meeting was the idea of a summer youth fitness program, led by people with experience in guiding youths away from violence and designed in a boot camp style.
Slaughter also said the coaches have talked about meeting with Chicago Police to identify problems and strategize ways to minimize violence. He said coaches have also talked about pairing up to lead athletes and the city's youths by example, teaming together for benefit basketball game.
"It's not necessarily because we got together, but it's because after having been together we actually recognized that we're going to be getting back together and work on some things that will help us get back to a better place," Slaughter said.
Contributing: Justin Breen
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