Local leader brings youth mentorship program to the community

SALISBURY, Md. – In an effort to reign the local youth in and teach them the value of mentorship, a community member brought a first-of-its-kind event to Salisbury.

Community leader, Shawn Lightfoot, and his wife brought the first ever the ‘Streets Didn’t Raise Me,’ conference to the community.

“When you turn on the news and you see a 14-year-old kid that’s murdered someone, or been murdered, I think it’s time that we step up and try to do our part to inform these kids on the positive path,” Lightfoot said.

Leaders from across Wicomico County spoke at the event, including community activist, Jermichael Mitchell, who said the time is now to prioritize uplifting the younger generation.

“I just don’t believe in stereotypes. Anybody who has a will, anybody who wants to make a way, it’s possible. You just have to believe, and you have to find and connect with the right people, like the Lightfoots,” Mitchell said.

Mindfulness leader, Kenisha Le’Cole, said that creating this safe space for the participants helps emphasize the importance of mental health amongst youth in the community.

“They need to know that they’re important, they need to learn self-love, because that’s not taught here,” Le’Cole said. “It’s very good for their mental health and mental health is not used appropriately in the streets.”