Violence, poverty, oppression
don't change overnight
Article courtesy of ChristianWeek (www.christianweek.org)
Written by Josiah Neufeld, ChristianWeek Staff
WINNIPEG, MB – Paintbrush in hand, facing
an empty canvas is where Darryle Caribou finds space to express
himself and be a role model for other aboriginal youth.
Inner-city issues require years of input; you
can't just simply fly at the issues hoping to see change.
"I've been on the streets, been
through schools, been to foster homes – this is what keeps
me balanced," says the 24-year-old Cree painter born in
Pukatawogan.
Caribou recently used his skills to inspire
youth at Inner City Youth Alive's 21st anniversary banquet, where
he set up a canvas, rolled up his sleeves and, while silverware
clinked and speakers told stories, created a painting to reflect
the spirit of the evening.
Inner City Youth Alive is seeking to help tranform
Winnipeg's North End through a variety of avenues including a
drop-in centre, a work education program, a chopper bicycle club,
a stock car racing club, a teen moms' program and wilderness camping
trips for youth.
Though IYCA director Kent Dueck says the Church
in Winnipeg is waking up to its calling to care for the poor,
he has yet to see if it's more than a "flavour of the week."
"Inner-city issues require years of input;
you can't just simply fly at the issues hoping to see change,"
says Dueck, who's seen plenty of gang violence, prostitution,
poverty and racism in two decades of working in the inner city.
"I see our community rising up out of the
ashes," says Dueck. "I sense people's readiness to fight
back against the drug dealers, prostitution and other oppressive
factors around us."
_____
Inner City Youth Alive is always looking for volunteers
to assist with the program by serving as role models. For more
information, click to contact
ICYA.
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