PHILADELPHIA (KYW Newsradio) — At least 185 people under the age of 18 have been shot in Philadelphia so far this year. A group of Philly influencers, community leaders and activists came together in Germantown Saturday for a rally they hope will help deter neighborhood gun violence.
The room was filled with many young people, mostly young Black boys, including a showing from the NOMO Foundation and another mentorship organization called Mentor Leaders Produce Mentor Leaders.
"This is a connection to the violence that's been going on in Philadelphia," said MLPML director Vincent Garrett. He said for the past three years, he's been dedicated to investing in and teaching at-risk youth around the city.
"We need to change the narrative and events like this will help that. It gives the youth a chance to see that people will support," said Garrett.
In just minutes, with only a hat and an ask, attendees raised more than $300 for the young men to get food after the event. Organizer Ant Brown says it was a show of unity that set the tone for what the day was about.
"You can be positive and still be popular and have influence. You can still get on the radio, be social media influencers ... that's what I hope they got from this event just seeing the unity from this event," said Brown.
Stanley "Stizz" Blythe, another organizer, said that while the event wasn't a fix-all to the gun violence issue, bringing everyone together to share ideas and conversations was a start.
"Back in the day we stuck together as a community, whether it was carrying the groceries for the older people. It gotta start with coming together, it takes more than one person," he said.
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"When I came out of prison, I wanted to start fresh and I felt like the only way I could start fresh was to make a new person," said 20-year-old Rayshawn Washington, better known as "Bike Life Rex" on Instagram to his almost 300,000 followers.
Washington, who prefers to be called "Rex," spent two years in prison as a teenager. After his release, he purchased a bike, which helped him become a viral sensation.
Now known for his daredevil bicycle stunts, such as known for riding handlebars, Washington credits the bike for changing him from the person he once was. "He did things because he thought he had to, he sold drugs, he lied and all types of things," he shared.
Washington said he cleared everything from his calendar to share his wisdom and inspire young people not to make the mistakes he did, but instead to find a hobby they love and go after it. Many of them clamored over the social media personality, taking selfies and confessing their admiration.
"To have people looking at me as an idol," he said, "you're not looking at me as a rapper, a famous drug dealer ... you're looking at me as a motivational speaker and a bike rider, and you're proud of that and that was my goal. And I'm proud of myself. Today just made me look at myself a little better."
Other leaders in attendance included state Sen. Sharif Street, former state Sen. Movita Johnson Harrell and state Rep. Darisha Parker.