In the U.S., there are approximately 4.8 million young people under the age of 18 that are grieving the loss of a parent or significant caregiver. 75% of all African-American children are growing up in a single parent household. 1.5 million children are grieving the loss of a parent to incarceration, or abandonment.
Based on this set of dynamics, it is no wonder that the prevalence of gangs and gang activity is growing in our area and country. It is reported by the U.S. Justice Department, that somewhere around 760,000 kids are “hanging”, fighting and negatively associating with more than 25,000 gangs.
In the Atlanta area alone, there are more than 200 known gang cells operating in urban neighborhoods, and more recently, filtering out into the suburban and rural areas of the metro area. The emphasis is on the word known, as it is believed that more informal, and neighborhood based gangs exist than is being reported. According to area mortality rates, children are being directly impacted by these trends. This year, 40,000 young people will lose a parent before the age of 18, and more than 100,000 will be impacted by a significant loss in the Metro Atlanta area.
The number of deaths related to gang activity and violence represents a staggering percentage in this number. We all understand that as the adults in the lives of children, our role is to help them create meaningful associations, and to provide a safe, and full environment for them to learn and grow in their knowledge of the world. Our natural inclination may be to try to protect or shield them from life’s harder lessons such as death, pain, illness, and loss in general. All of these experiences help to shape how a child experiences, and builds a foundation for how they will live and connect to their lives. But, with so many caregivers absent, the parental roles are being left to other more sinister forces.
Project KARMA, Inc. seeks to reach young people of all races, and gender, ages 5-17 and their families, disproportionally represented and underserved in this number.
Project KARMA, Inc. Mission: Project KARMA empowers, celebrates, promotes and validates young people experiencing loss and offers an alternative to gang involvement.
For more information on how you can donate or get involved with Project KARMA visit www.projectkarmanow.org or scan the QR Code Below.
