An ethnically diverse group of about fifty people, mostly Black, gathered at the African Heritage Cultural Arts Center (AHCAC) on Saturday, January 24, 2015, for the first of many open forums to address solutions for healing Miami's Black community. Organized by James Mungin II of All Like Minds, Inc., representatives of PowerU (Hashim Benford), the Roots Collective and other groups, the session was a tremendous step towards making much needed connections and moving forward. Several community organizations were represented as were different age groups although I would have preferred seeing more young people in attendance.

I was most hopeful of potential progress when I saw a flip chart and a video camera in use. That might not seem like a big deal but at the local 'Stop the Violence' rallies and marches I've attended, it's been mostly talk without a definite call to action, development of an action plan and follow-up communication.

Connecting with my FAMU Rattler family at the Peace in the Hood Community Listening Session. These young people made me so proud.

The next session is scheduled for 5PM, Saturday, February 28, 2015 at AHCAC. Stay alert for more information.

#BlackLivesMatter #livingkwanzaa365 #umoja #kujichagulia #ujima #nia

-vb