The Final Call

A Conflict Resolution Center Is Coming To A City Near You

By Michael Z. Muhammad -Contributing Writer- | Last updated: May 18, 2016 - 8:05:48 AM

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The new mantra in Black communities throughout America is effective communication as a means to resolve conflict. This is happening in cities both large and small inspired by the local Muhammad Mosque’s and Study Groups of the Nation of Islam. Utilizing a program implemented by Student Minister Willie Muhammad of Mosque No. 46 in New Orleans the model calls for the establishment of Conflict Resolution Centers developed by the New Orleans Peacekeepers. On April 23, 2016 concurrent sessions were held in Chester, Pa. and Baltimore, Md.

Violence, crime and economic hardship are part of daily life in Chester. Located 20 miles southwest of Philadelphia it has one of the highest per-capital murder rates in the country according to statistics. Residents have a one in 37 chance of becoming a victim of violent crime compared to one in 273 in the entire state.  The city is 76 percent Black. The Nation of Islam Study Group under the leadership of Student Minister Keith Muhammad successfully organized a coalition of local activists, including Christians and others, to help the community grapple with the massive issues it is facing. 

The Study Group will be implementing the first Conflict Resolution Center in the Delaware Valley to be quickly followed by the 10,000 Fearless movement to actually enter the community to address the urgent issues. During the meeting held April 23, at Chester High School a formal announcement was made announcing the launch of the Conflict Resolution Hotline.

Left to right: Warren Williams Sr, Darryl , Yusuf Maith from Operation Safe Streets, Calvin X of Muhammad Mosque No. 46, Monica Cooper from the Maryland Justice Project and Kin Lane from Operation Safe Streets participated recently in conflict resolution training in Baltimore.

In making the announcement Student Minister Keith Muhammad stated, “This is a movement we’re participating in here in the City of Chester but is going on nationwide. There is an effort being put forth by men and women across the country to end the senseless violence in our community and to make our community a decent and safe place to live. So today in the City of Chester we are launching what we are calling the Conflict Resolution Hotline.”

Meanwhile 80 miles to the South in Baltimore, Md., Student Minister Carlos Muhammad of Muhammad Mosque No. 6 was hosting a training session attended by over 130 members of the community and the Nation of Islam to introduce them to the conflict resolution concept. That meeting was held at the ConneXions High School. According to Student Minister Carlos in Baltimore, the Nation has been in the streets before and during the Freddie Gray uprising and made a lot of good relationships.

Student Minister Keith Muhammad announced the establishment of a Conflict Resolution Center to serve the Delaware Valley Region during a presentation in Chester, Pa. Photo: Michael Z. Muhammad

“We just wanted to get the training because it has been effective. As a result our session turned out  to be the largest training for Bro. Willie and the co-trainers from Mosque No. 46 to date,” Student Minister Carlos said. “Real dialogue cannot take place until we meet face to face. Bring people face to face and working out ideas shows us that in order to resolve conflict it was must be hands on.”

In implementing the program in Chester Student Minister Keith states a hotline is set up. That will be called by community members who will report “something serious is about to jump off.”

The mediation team will then go and try to insert itself into that problem to diffuse the situation, he explained.  “Somebody calls we get the information and do everything we can to bring both parties to the table,” said Student Minister Keith. The police are not involved.

Student Minister Carlos states the approach has a lot of merit.  One of the main things Student Minister Willie kept putting out is after you get the training and know how, the main thing is you have to get to work to do it.

“In Baltimore we have been mediating but not in the systematic way. We have relationships in the community where people call up and reach out for assistance. But to have a dedicated hotline established, (and) inclusion of sisters, it will allow us to have a greater impact into what we have already been doing,” Student Minister Carlos stated.

Participating in the Chester rollout, was longtime community activist the Reverend Carl Everett. He told those in attendance that we must first look at ourselves and also teach our young people how to love themselves. “We can make a difference. The people know your heart. We have to keep it 100 if we are going to make a difference. I am a part of the Nation of Islam,” he said in remarks.

The Nation of Islam, local activists and community members participated in a Conflict Resolution seminar in Baltimore, Maryland, as part of efforts to resolve disputes and make the community a safe and decent place to live.

The Baltimore initiative is set to launch in early June. “All of this is inspired by our commitment to help the Honorable Minister Louis Farrakhan’s call a reality. His call for the 10,000 Fearless as well as solving problems in our cities and making them a decent and safer place to live,” Student Minister Carlos added.

In concluding the Chester program Student Minister Keith stated, “This is the launching point for a movement. We have to do what is necessary to begin the process of serious and real change.”