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May 19, 2007 7:43 pm US/Eastern
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15th Annual Youth Peace Conference Held In Boston
by Peg Rusconi
BOSTON (WBZ) ―
There was a loud call for peace on the streets of Boston on Saturday. Hundreds gathered for the 15th Annual Youth Peace Conference in Roxbury, where the important message was driven home by several stories of personal tragedy.
The resurgence of violence in some of Boston's poorest neighborhoods is the backdrop for the peace conference.
"This problem that we had gotten a handle on in the '90's is back."
Helping to deliver a message of non-violence was Terrell Walton, who was paralyzed by a retaliatory bullet in 2003. "After I was shot I was in the hospital for two years. During that time I lost four friends to shootings."
"I've been shot, I've been stabbed, I've been to jail, I've left school, I've had no job."
Jumaane Kendrick of Teen Empowerment, Inc. turned his life around after serving time for gun possession. He now mentors teens and encourages them to take charge of their futures. "I'm here today hoping you'll learn this lesson without losing your ability to walk or suffering a near death experience… it isn't too late for me, and it isn't too late for you."
They struck a chord with an audience of several hundred. "Really sentimental, really touching, like it was really personal, everything this year," said one person attending the conference.
Organizers say the key to this peace conference is as much the messengers as the message. The hope is young people will listen to young people.
Boston's peace conference is the oldest youth-led peace conference in the country.
(© MMVII, CBS Broadcasting Inc. All Rights Reserved.)