This year alone, several families in the Fredericksburg area mourned the loss of their teenage sons to gun violence.
That sobering reality served as the backdrop of the 14th annual Peace in Da Paint event this past Saturday at W.L Harris Playground in Fredericksburg’s Mayfield neighborhood. Event co-founders Kentrale “Armani” Washington and Kisha Turner created the community celebration to combat gun violence among youth in the greater Fredericksburg area.
While the day was as festive as ever despite sweltering heat, organizers and community leaders are increasingly concerned about the increase in youth violence in the region.
“Kids need to be taught to settle their differences on the court,” Washington said … “It’s important to stick together and put the guns down because it affects everyone,” he added.
Numerous vendors and community leaders were on hand, including Fredericksburg City Schools Superintendent Marci Catlett and Fredericksburg Vice Mayor Chuck Frye Jr., whose Ward 4 district includes Mayfield.
Longtime city law enforcement officer Rashawn Cowles, who is a candidate for Fredericksburg Sheriff, acknowledged that youth violence is on the rise in the area, but said events like Peace in Da Paint provides mentorship opportunities that can help teenagers and young adults make better decisions.
“This kind of event gives kids something to do, while allowing adults to interact with them on their level,” Cowles said. “Peace in Da Paint’s platform allows adults and organizations to collaborate in efforts of curbing gun violence.”
A variety of individuals, businesses and organizations funded this year’s event, particularly the purchase of jerseys. All In One Moving and Storage donated most of the school supplies that were distributed.
In addition to the massive amount of school supplies, giveaways included six PlayStation 5 consoles and 52 bicycles. The continued support serves as encouragement for Washington.
“As the years go by, the event is becoming more difficult to put together, but by the grace of God [it] hasn’t skipped a beat,” Washington said.
Go-go bands played live music in the past, but this year, DJ Jealousy, a 19-year radio veteran, who works for WPGC 95.5, provided the day’s soundtrack.
DJ Jealousy of WPGC 95.5 served as Emcee for Saturday’s event. (Photo by Jamar Billingsley)
DJ Jealousy credited Washington for creating an event that is meaningful to the community.
“Every community should be doing something similar to this,” DJ Jealousy said. “This is a blueprint that can be spread across the entire D.C., Maryland, and Virginia region.”
On the court, Washington’s middle school team defeated Calvin Jones’ Born 2 Ball 13-year-old squad from D.C., 53-23 in the first game of the day. In the young adults’ game, guard Tim Turner led his Grizzlies squad to a 52-42 victory over Team All In. Team Kenny defeated Team Riverbend in a thriller that needed two overtimes to decide a winner.
Cowles noted that, in previous years, the Fredericksburg Police Department faced off with the city’s fire department. But this year, Cowles didn’t lace up his shoes. Instead, he passed out water to athletes and attendees who were battling the heat.
Cowles wasn’t the only one with curbing youth violence on his mind Saturday.
FailSafe Era, a local nonprofit organization, was in attendance as a vendor. The group started sounding the alarm on gun violence after a shooting at the Olde Greenwich neighborhood, which straddles the line between Spotsylvania County and Fredericksburg, left three teenagers dead this past April.
FailSafe volunteer Darnisha Carter hopes to take back the community while educating at-risk youth about gun violence. FailSafe Era is currently working with law enforcement in Stafford, Fredericksburg, and Spotsylvania to address concerns.
“The kids are our future, and violence is definitely not the answer because incarceration is not cool,” Carter said … “We need to focus on mental health, as well, and we need more mentors,” she added.
Other notable Peace in Da Paint vendors included Kappa Alpha Psi Fredericksburg Chapter, Gary Holland of #ENOUGH, the Fredericksburg Democratic Committee, and the Fredericksburg Fire Department.
Frye encouraged the community to surrender unwanted weapons to Fredericksburg’s Gun Giveback program that he established 11 years ago. The program is responsible for removing 200 firearms from the street.
