Happy Birthday Kevin.

It was just after midnight on June 15th, 2015. Casual relaxation after the city’s bustling noise had begun to quiet down for the night. Suddenly a few rounds of what sounded like a .38 revolver rang off into the warm summer air, followed by screeching tires and screams. As usual, my family and I scurried over to the window of our 27 story high rise, to personally investigate the situation. The smiles and subtle jokes quickly faded when we noticed the young man stepping out of the car walking toward the predicted gunman was coincidentally wearing the same exact outfit my brother wore when leaving the apartment a couple hours earlier. “Kevin!” We screamed out of the window trying to convince him to return to the car, to safety. But his willpower to retaliate, even if unarmed, was louder than our desperate screams.

Fortunately for us my brother wasn’t hit by the bullets that day. But he was very close, and sadly, it wasn’t the first time. The local gang members spotted an unfamiliar, luxury car in the neighborhood and shot first, only to ask questions later. Incidents like this happen far too often and it has to come to an end at some point, which is regrettably easier said than done. For my neighborhood of Uptown Chicago, gangs have terrorized the streets for as long as I can remember. Families have moved out of the neighborhood to ensure that their own child doesn’t suffer premature death. My own adult brothers (25, and 31) are even hesitant to walk by themselves at any time of the day, for fear of being mistaken for someone they’re not (as they have been plenty of times before.) “Cease Fire Uptown” is an anti violence program introduced in the community where civilians could raise awareness by creating youth programs, hold meetings, protest, etc., to help solve these issues. If we keep fighting, one day these initiatives will work 100% rather than some of the time. And decrease the chances of law abiding citizens, and promising young men like Kevin from almost being shot and killed. Especially on their birthdays.