Chosen For Change: An effort to save young people grows out of pain, love of Mike Brown, Sr. for his son

By J.A. Salaam -Staff Writer- | Last updated: Jul 7, 2015 - 11:00:03 AM

Youth participated in fun and learning activities offered by a foundation established in honor of Mike Brown Jr.

FERGUSON, Mo.—Eleven months ago on August 9, 2014 unarmed 18-year-old Michael Brown, Jr. was shot and killed by White police officer Darren Wilson. Michael had just graduated from high school and was scheduled to begin vocational training classes just two days later.

Though he didn’t get a chance to live and find his purpose in life, his death has helped remove the blinders off the eyes of the world to the harsh reality of injustice, police brutality and racism inside America.

Mike Brown Sr. left with Dontey D. Carter at event sponsored to promote development of Black youth

Mike Brown, Jr. wanted to make a difference, was determined to become famous and come back to his community to change its condition, say family members.

“The day we celebrated his graduation from high school, he announced that he wanted to be a rapper. ‘That’s all fine and good,’ I responded, ‘but you’re gonna’ stay in school and you’re gonna stay focused,’ ” said Mike Brown, Sr., of his son.

His son got angry and told the family, “One day, the world is gonna’ know my name. I’ll probably have to go away for a while, but I’m coming back to save my city,” he told his father.

“That has come true. The name ‘Mike Brown’ has become the national symbol of police shootings of unarmed Black men. For me, I feel obligated to keep stressing the deeper meaning of his words. Because of my son’s death and the justice we’re still seeking, hurting people, grieving people who’ve lost their children to gun violence or police brutality reach out to me. They invite me to speak at gatherings. There is a small level of comfort in being in the company of the wounded, the lost, the other parents who understand that we can’t possibly ‘move on,’ ” said the father.

A father’s love

“I’m often asked; ‘How are you doing?’ People mean well. But that question just raises more questions for me: Am I really supposed to be better? Should I have moved on since Mike’s death? How do I do that?” asked Mike Brown, Sr.

“I’ve heard about soldiers who block out the intensity of warfare until after the battle. I think I slipped into that state of mind. A couple weeks later, as my son’s casket was lowered into the ground, I came out of my fog. Standing at that gravesite, it got very, very real. My firstborn son—the kid I’d had when I was just a 17-year-old kid myself—was gone forever. Never again would I hear his voice, his often incomprehensible jokes, or his strange predictions,” said the father in a Father’s Day letter written and published this year.

He decided to turn the pain and challenges of losing his son into an opportunity of change. Thus, Chosen for Change Foundation was born in loving memory of Michael Brown, Jr. It’s an organization whose purpose is to empower youth by helping them realize their potential for greatness.

“Chosen for Change” was created to teach kids the importance to stop hurting one another and start helping each other. They will learn success survival skills, how to act in public, how to be respectful of themselves and others,” said Jana M. Gamble, a member of the foundation’s board of directors. The organization was recently started and is going through the final phases of formal incorporation.

“One main thing we want people to know about us is that we are serious about giving back to the community. We also support families who have lost family to violent crimes and at the hands of law enforcement. Another part of our mission to give back to the community, like during the holidays we have the Thanksgiving Turkey Giveaway and adopt families for Christmas.

A. Akbar Muhammad speaking to youth. Photos: J.A. Salaam

“Lastly we will have a Boys to Men training program to possibly help decrease the chance of another killing like Mike Brown, Jr. and others across the country,” added Ms. Gamble.

The organization held its First Youth Summit at Herbert Hoover Boys and Girls Club in St. Louis, June 27.

It was an all-night event, lasting until 7 a.m. the next morning. The evening was filled with activities for youth. There were speakers, entertainment, health education and anger management exercises, manhood and womanhood workshops, games and more. Among the speakers were A. Akbar Muhammad of the Nation of Islam, Mike Brown, Sr., activist Anthony Shahid, author Ajuma Muhammad, Keith Clinton, and youth activist Dontey D. Carter, James Muhammad and several members of the Fruit of Islam from Muhammad Mosque No. 28 helped secure the venue that evening.

The group (available on Twitter at @chosenforchange) is seeking celebrity and community involvement in its first Mike Brown, Jr. Memorial Day Weekend Aug. 7-9. For more information or to get involved contact, [email protected] or call 636-577-1800. The attire for Aug. 9 is white shirt and khaki pants, said event organizers. Chosen For Change can also be found on Facebook.

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