“This is our neighborhood. The West End is really not bad, it just has a few bad people. At the same time, we try to teach some of them if we catch them in time. That’s the biggest problem we have, which is trying to catch them in time. I’m serious, it’s a lot of intelligent young people out here but they make the wrong turn. What we’re trying to do is make them take the other turn because they got a life to live. It’s better than looking over your shoulder all the time. That ain’t a way to live. You want to be able to raise your family with no problems. That’s the life that I’m trying to live for the young people. You know, I’m 63 and I done lived a pretty good one. I wanna see some of them grow up. It’s quite a few of people that come, shake my hand, and tell me that they’re doing good. That makes me feel good.

If you want to be loved, you got to share love. If you want to have a friend, be a friend. Just because somebody is struggling, it doesn’t mean you should turn your back on them. You can always help them and it’s not going to cost you nothing. Always spread some kind of positive knowledge. It’s up to them if they use it. If you hear negative, don’t even respond to it. Just walk away from it.” - Kenny, Shawnee