Program aims to create a culture of peace

Jeyson Jones, 16, could laugh with 15 other classmates and friends at the Valley Stream Presbyterian Church on a recent Thursday night while calling Dontáe Ellis, 17, a bully for teasing his friend for wearing two shirts. But it’s the fact that two titanium plates were put into the sides of his then smiling face, made his mother seriously consider issues facing the village’s youth.

Rev. Kymberley Clemons (KC) Jones, who is in her third year as pastor at the Presbyterian church, came up with the idea for hosting weekly meetings of the W.A.N.T.E.D. program when her son was attacked and robbed by five youths in March. She said because her son and others were assaulted in broad daylight, she felt that young boys of color in Valley Stream needed to learn decision-making skills for dealing with instances of violence and police targeting.

Jeyson, a South High School student, was almost home from a track meet at 7 p.m. on March 28. He pulled out his cell phone to text his father, hoping they could go to Coldstone for ice cream to celebrate his most recent running victory. His mother said because he was typing and had headphones in, he was unprepared for the hit he took to the face.

Jones said she later learned that her son’s jaw had been broken on one side and fractured on the other. “His mouth was busted open,” she said. “Thank God I was home when he got in.”

The reverend also found out that another boy was assaulted in the same area of Valley Stream the next day at 4 p.m. Thinking about these events while Jeyson was in surgery, Jones said she wrote down the acronym behind her youth program.

“The spirit came to me,” she said. “I realized as beautiful as my son is, he has a target on the back of his head. Our boys are wanted by their peers with self-esteem or socioeconomic problems, and they are wanted by law enforcement who might expect violence from them.”

The seven-week program is regularly attended by 15 black and Hispanic boys, ages 12 to 18. The Thursday night meetings at the church feature speakers who say they sympathize with the struggles of young men of color and that they are W.A.N.T.E.D. — worthy, accountable, named, thankful, empowered and determined.