Andrade

Roses in the Concrete

              The poem, Roses in the Concrete, written by Tu Pac Shakur talks about how the rose grew because of tenacity and the willingness to reach the sun.  In the video, Andrade talked about the area where he lives was considered to have the most homicides, 555 deaths in Oakland.  The news quarantined the area and called it the plague.  How can a child grow in a healthy environment where they would witness a homicide and violence?  Andrade stated that there are more children in Oakland that suffer from PTSD (post traumatic stress disorder) than the men who served in Dessert Storm.  Keep in mind, these children did not reach high school yet.  "One out of three urban youth will suffer mild to severe PTSD but now it is twice than a military soldier (Andrade video)".  For this purpose there should be support groups for our youths.  When teens have to bury a friend who was killed or have witness a killing; where can these teens get the support they need in helping them deal with such atrocities.  Our school teaches us academically but can they also give the support that these youths desperately need.  Health profession now classified a more complicated type of PTSD call Complex PTSD. 

             As a result, the birth of a new support group that helps them cope with the violence and guides these children academically.  These youths are attending class and counseling.  Their GPA increased to 3.18 as opposed to dropping out or a below average level.  They have a 92% rate of youths going to a 4 year college verses other schools in Oakland where 23% of students actually graduates and as low as 5% will go to some type of college or vocational training.