This petition cuts to the quick of my lived reality. As a child, from the ages of 13 to 16, my brother and I subsisted in a vacant building on Lexington and Taylor, North Side St. Louis, our lives devoid of any supportive guidance. We knew of nothing but survival. Our education wasn't in classrooms, it was on the streets, where we were taught how to sell drugs and protect ourselves. Many misunderstand this circumstance and, to this day, this misunderstanding persists. But, as the saying goes, one can't grow flowers without planting seeds correctly. We are and were those seeds, yearning for growth.

St. Louis has a quaking problem: according to a report by the Annie E. Casey Foundation, 27% of children in Missouri live in poverty, with a higher concentration in northern St. Louis (source: Annie E. Casey Foundation Kids Count Data Center, 2020). A massive component of this issue lies in the lack of direction for the youth in these regions. Consequently, we demand the inception of a comprehensive empowerment program for the youth of St. Louis North Side. This fully-supervised program should involve various components such as mentorship, job placement, practical trade skill training, ongoing help with goal setting and achievement, and even recreational activities.
I intend to provide employment by teaching trade on car wash and detailing and window tint services as well as teaching chess and pool table for recreation 
By taking such an approach, we can assure a thriving future for the children of St. Louis, breaking the vicious cycle of poverty, drugs, and desperation. Remember, we are the seeds awaiting the right conditions to bloom. Give us those conditions by lending your support. Please, sign this petition.