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KRIEGER: Open Door needs more messengers

By Dave Krieger, Rocky Mountain News (Contact)

Published June 6, 2008 at 9:40 p.m.

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Brandon Marshall, No. 15 in your Broncos program, stood in front of a couple dozen kids in a classroom at Wyatt-Edison Charter School in flip-flops, shorts and a Barack Obama T-shirt.

"If you Google my name, you'll see a lot of negative things because I've made mistakes," he told them.

"So I'm not someone here talking to you guys because I'm Mr. Perfect. No. I'm from the same neighborhood you guys are from, the same type of environment, and I'm speaking to you guys from my heart and it's real.

"I don't want to live like my mom and my dad, or some of my family members, where it's week by week, check by check, where it's a struggle. You guys know how it is. No hot water. Bills ain't paid. No cell phone. No food in the 'frigerator.

"I been through it. I been through a whole winter where I didn't have no hot water, no heat. We heated up our house with the oven. So I know what some of you guys are going through. I know it. I still have family that's going through the same thing. You don't want to live that way. You have a chance to make your own decisions and your own choices right now.

"What you guys need to do is really focus and get y'all grades and make something of y'all self. Don't run with the wrong crowd.

"Like I said, I made mistakes. I've made mistakes recently, I've made mistakes a long time ago. It's what you do, it's how you bounce back from it, if you become a better person."

To the Rev. Leon Kelly, sometimes it feels like he's fighting a tidal wave with a bucket. Ever since Broncos cornerback Darrent Williams was killed in a gang-related shooting on New Year's Day 2007, Kelly has been trying to get local professional athletes involved with Open Door Youth Gang Alternatives, the gang prevention program he founded in the 1980s.

In that first flush of shock, everyone wanted to help. On the last day of school a year ago, seven Broncos players dropped by Open Door's after- school program.

It is a sign of the changes in pro football that a year later only one of the seven is still on the roster. Developing mentoring relationships with professional athletes is not as easy as it was back in the day, when players like Claudie Minor came by year after year, even after retiring from the game.

Seventeen months after Williams' killing, the city has moved on. It is polishing its image for the Democratic convention this summer. The mayor and police chief just announced a double-digit drop in the official crime rate.

Somehow, it doesn't stop the flow of funerals for gang-related shooting victims such as Demetrus Harris or for former gang leaders such as Michael Asberry.

"Any kind of stats can be manipulated," Kelly said. "Right now, we are certainly trying to preserve this image of our city because we're going to make history here in a couple of months. In the wake of everything that's been happening over the last couple of months, the whole thing is 'Suppress, suppress, suppress. Fix it. Fix it.' To keep this image the way that we need."

For all the promises of assistance following Williams' death, Open Door will not run its six-week summer program for the first time in 23 years for lack of funding. Whatever the city says, Kelly sees a gang problem that keeps growing.

"I would say because of the economy it's a little worse," he said. "There's a lot of dope in the city. When these guys who've got felonies try and get a regular job, a legitimate job, they can't get one. The only one that is really an equal opportunity employer and that is hiring is the dope man."

There are symbols of progress. The Darrent Williams Memorial Teen Center opened last month at the Boys and Girls Club in Montbello. The city suspended fees for kids to use the pools at public recreation centers until August.

But gang violence rolls on, much of it unreported. So when Marshall and Elvis Dumervil, two of the Broncos' best-known stars, showed up on the last day of school Thursday, Kelly took full advantage, putting them in a room with the oldest kids, the sixth-, seventh- and eighth-graders, for about an hour of straight talk.

Dumervil told them about growing up in Miami's Liberty City.

"It's a pretty rough area," he said. "Right now, most of my friends are maybe in jail or dead. It's hard to face reality, but if you don't go to school, you're either going to be dead or in jail. That's the statistics. You want to be in the group that goes to college. That gives you a chance in life."

Signs of hope in Kelly's business are few and far between. Paul Kirk, the director of media relations the Broncos laid off in March, set this one up.

Kelly hopes it will inspire other athletes in town to help.

Marshall, who was reportedly involved in the nightclub dispute the night of Williams' shooting, was eager to share his message.

"When you see something negative going on, you've got to go the other way," he told the kids. "And that's what I'm learning to do with my life because, like I said, I'm not perfect."

Comments

  • June 7, 2008

    6:34 a.m.

    Suggest removal

    boydy2669 writes:

    Great article....always gratifying to see athletes give back to the community.
    And I really respect Brandon Marshall for the changes he is making.

  • June 7, 2008

    7:43 a.m.

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    Spider writes:

    This a big step for Marshall going in the right direction. I hope he keeps it up.

  • June 7, 2008

    12:37 p.m.

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    motorcityhitman writes:

    Great article. If it isn't too late; what can we do to make Open Door happen this summer?

  • June 7, 2008

    2:21 p.m.

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    ObiWan writes:

    Once again proving that Dave K. is the best journalist in this time zone....hands down.

  • June 8, 2008

    12:04 a.m.

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    LarryB writes:

    Sounds as if BMarsh may be growing up.

  • June 8, 2008

    12:25 p.m.

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    TONE writes:

    'Big Mac' Marshall not onlg does kid happy, but he is also doing them good. Way to go!!!!

  • June 8, 2008

    2:59 p.m.

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    Godbuzz writes:

    right on

  • June 8, 2008

    6:39 p.m.

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    nuggetsteve23 writes:

    6 weeks ? maybe a 100, 000 grand ? tax write off Broncos Nuggets Rockies Crush Coors Qwest Comcast Gates Fondation Buff Club Level3 Elway Melo Iverson Camby Kenyon ARE YOU LISTENINNG

  • June 9, 2008

    12:28 a.m.

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    forevertj writes:

    Him wearing an Obama T shirt destroys all his credibility with me.

  • June 9, 2008

    9:44 a.m.

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    sbhchawk writes:

    TJ, the guy gives back to the community and all you can say is his political beliefs make you think less of him? I'm not an Obama guy but I don't look down on a huge portion of our country because they are an acting part of democracy. Your convictions seem a bit off center if that is what you took away from this story.

  • June 9, 2008

    12:24 p.m.

    Suggest removal

    SudsySoper writes:

    Forevertj writes:
    Him wearing an Obama T shirt destroys all his credibility with me.

    Have you read either of his books? Do you know anything about him? Do you know anything about McCain? The choice is clear - but you have to do some research before you open your mouth. Who is the richest Senator? Who takes the most lobby money?

    Sorry, this is a Bronco discussion - but uneducated responses drive me up the wall.