Chester Needs A New Kind of Leadership

[Richard Tut Carter]

I've been convinced for some time now that Chester needs a new kind of leadership. We need morally brave citizens that'll engage public discussion centering around crucial issues which effect each and every one of us in Chester. We need enlightened minds that see how the combined forces of economic apartheid, political corruption and, institutional racism serve as weapons of mass destruction aimed at Chester's Youth.

This new kind of leadership must emerge from among our children to be real and effective today. Why? Because the current leadership of local politicians, faith community, grass roots and service providers have no respect for the rights of our children's future. The current leadership has allowed Chester's land-rights to be sold from under of our children's feet. Therefore, if our children don't stand up and begin to question "where is our future in Chester?" When they reach adult-hood it'll be too late -- gentrification would have already altered and changed the face of our city.

We need youth being trained for this new kind of leadership that want to see movie theaters, supermarkets, open-community centers, cyber-cafes, hobby-shops, affordable housing, manufacturing factories and, other businesses and items that make a thriving "peaceful"-community being established "for" their children's future in their hood.

To make all of this possible, above all else we need honest young people who aren't afraid to challenge the current "old" slave mentality that plagues our city. This new kind of youth driven, owned and controlled leadership must be prepared to take their future out of the hands of those they see mis-managing current social affairs. And, this "new" kind of youth leadership must encourages their peers to open their eyes to see how dropping out of school and, engaging in criminal activity and using drugs and going to prison are traps used to remove them from Chester. Removing Chester's undesirable "Youth" population is a vital part of the on-going gentrification process of stealing the city from the current 75.7% Black population.

When we ask youth to come to meetings of any sort today in Chester -- we need to invite them to examine why Chester residents have no say over economic development in Chester. Why we are always told what others are planning for our future and, why none of our leadership show any loyalty to our children future in Chester. That is, each multi-million dollar construction venture in Chester rely on state and federal grant funds that Chester local government or residents have had little control over. So, for the past 25 years we've have seen most grant money which was suppose to help reduce poverty in Chester serve to the opposite purpose of increasing poverty; unemployment, crime and the incarceration of Chester youth.

Chester Needs A New Kind of Leadership "Summit" to put these kind of ideas in the mind of our children. This will give Chester morally brave, honest, intelligent and loyal decision making for a better future!

Bro. Richard Tut Carter, Administrative Director
HRC-Chester Resource Center & Outreach Project
2 East 7th Street, Chester, PA 19013

[Pete Westhill]

Richard you said it best. I can't add anything to this. It' so right on! I can't believe how many youth programs exist in Chester City and not one of them have the guts to teach the kids the truth. I've quietly watched the usual circles try to speak for the young bucks yet not a single young voice was given a platform to speak for themselves. Shame shame on Chester! Most of your problems come from the fact that the city has no vision for young people period!

[Desire Grover]

Welcome to GP Pete :) I say ditto to your observations.