Rally in West Willow on Saturday will 'help reclaim the neighborhood'

A full day of events kicks off at 10 a.m. and concludes late in the afternoon. Among the highlights are speakers that include former West Willow gang members who have turned their lives around after being arrested in the RICO Act operation 15 years ago and Sheriff Jerry Clayton.

James Whitfield is one of the former West Willow gang members who was incarcerated in federal prison for his role in gang violence around 15 years ago.

He’s now supervisor of the Street Outreach Team, which also includes Sheriff’s Department Spokesman Derrick Jackson, Cheyenne Turner and Anthony Woodford.

James Whitfield

Tom Perkins | For AnnArbor.com

He explained why, after being incarcerated, he is helping the neighborhood heal and why the Street Outreach Team put together the rally.

“I felt I was one who created a lot of problems, so I’ll be the one to solve a lot of the problems,” he said. “I looked at the position the neighborhood was in and felt I needed to be doing something to be able to push the violence back.

"We developed this in response to all the killings and murders that happened over the winter. The (crime) stats are down low during the summer and we’re making sure we can get everybody to help reclaim the neighborhood with the Peace Rally.”

One of the points the team is driving home is that violence In the area is no longer just a law enforcement issue, but it's also a public health issue. Residents often don't know what's available to them outside the neighborhood, Whitfield said, so the team invited several nonprofits to the rally.

Turner said she explained that idea to local health representatives and they were excited to get involved.

“(Violence) no longer falls only within the domain of law enforcement to address, so we need to come together and address some of the factors that cause the violence,” Turner said. “Substance abuse, lack of health care, poor quality of living—there are a whole bunch of factors that cause violence to occur in the neighborhood. People lost their job, they’re stressed, they mix substance abuse with mental health issues, and it causes problems.”

Among those who will offer services and information are a team from Saint Joseph’s Hospital that will provide free mammograms and a team from the Univeristy of Michigan Medical School that will offer a free health clinic.

The Ozone House, Washtenaw Community Health Organization and Hope Clinic will also be at the rally. Girls on the Run, a mentoring program for girls, are involved in the event, as is Gear Up, a tutoring program active in local schools.

Ann Arbor's Dispute Resolution Center will be doing a small workshop to demonstrate how to resolve conflict.

A variety of other representatives from area nonprofits will make announcements about the resources and services they offer to the community, and events include an art show by neighborhood kids, basketball tournament, picnic, peace march through the neighborhood, memorial for those who lost their lives, performances and more.

The scheduled events include:

• A 45-minute walk through the neighborhood starting around 10:30 a.m. in West Willow Park
• Guest speakers at the park around 11:30 a.m.
• Memorial balloon release following the speakers
• Announcements from local non-profits and Art in the Park after the balloon release
• A picnic hosted by the New West Willow Neighborhood Association starting at 1 p.m., along with the "Ballin' in the Willow" 3-on-3 basketball finals
• An interactive graffiti art demonstration, comedy show and step show to be held after the picnic
• Neighborhood pledge to end violence and plaque ceremony around 4:00 p.m.

Any needing more information can call 734-973-4974.