Monroe Dispatch - No Struggle, No Progress

Marion Obafemi believes when people are hurting, they hurt other people. So, addressing a rise in crime and violence means putting a B.A.L.M. on those who are hurting. "One thing that we must understand is that if people are hurting because of the crime here in Marshall, TX, they're hurting all over the United States, too," Obafemi said. "So we need a B.A.L.M. to rub on, to ease the pain. We have many people hurting, especially these young men in our community. And they're hurting other people because they don't understand how to remedy their own problems. We have become distanced from them; we don't know how to engage them so we can bring a solution to them." During a visit to Marshall, TX, Obafemi, with P.A.T.C.H.E.S. Inc, spoke before a crowd gathered at the G.W. Carver Community Center Saturday, August 27, 2022. Obafemi is hoping to partner with the city of Marshall, TX, to work on reducing crime and uplifting young men who feel disconnected from the community. Calling his program "The B.A.L.M.com", Obafemi said the idea is that young men need a B.A.L.M, something to soothe their hurt. Part of that is the 4-H factors: hurt, help, healing, and hope. He believes encouraging the youth to be more engaged will help young men turn their lives around and get them off the streets. Obafemi also believes that speaking directly to them to gain understanding and insight into what they need is a necessary step for change. "We're going to build a bridge, and we're going to fix that gap, so to speak, to talk about their hurt, and get a better understanding of why there is such a high violent crime and murder rate," he said. "They're engaging in a lot of altercations, and they're doing a lot of shooting because they're hurting. They can't express themselves in a way we understand and communicate in a way we can interpret. What they're saying is they're hurt. And they're saying, listen, come and get me off the streets." This article was taken from The Marshall News Messenger.