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You Hear the Stories Over and Over  Told by Migdalia Garcia  Written by Laurie Grobman  After graduating from college in 2003, Migdalia Garcia moved to Reading to become a part time mentor at the Police Athletic League’s “Mentoring in the Arts” program, supported by ...

You Have to Figure it Out  Told by Anonymous  Written by Laurie Grobman  Between the ages of 13-21, Tony, 39, spent most of his time on the streets of Reading.  Tony’s mother was 16 years old when Tony was born. Her “form of discipline was to hit you  with a belt or...

Dee Taylor and Venus   Whether on Earth or in Heaven,  She is Always With Me  Told by Dee Taylor  Written by Laurie Grobman  One thing is clear to Dee Taylor, whose 28-year-old daughter, Venus, was murdered in 2004  by her ex-boyfriend - that she will “hold the torch”...

When Giving Up is the Only Choice  Told by Anonymous  Written by Ashley Ortiz Felix and Laurie Grobman  In a moment of desperation, Kallie (not her real name), who’d never before been in trouble,  set her family’s house on fire. Her young son was with her. Kallie pled...

What Would You Do with Your Life If You Were Given a Second Chance?  Told by Luis Diaz  Written by Kyle Esterly and Laurie Grobman  The youngest of three boys, Luis Diaz followed his two older brothers and his father into  Reading’s streets. He sold weed, cocaine, and...

We’ve Got to Go  Told by Jennifer Cabrera  Written by Laurie Grobman  When she was 14 years old, Jennifer Cabrera and her family left their home in Brooklyn,  New York to move to Reading. It was 2002, and her parents had grown fearful of the crime  and violence in...

Tighten Up  Told by Lex Perez  Written by Adithya Reddy Baddam, Austin Lee Herrmann, Angela Ruth Bonopane, and Laurie Grobman  Lex Perez “grew up in violence.” It began with his parents’ “dysfunctional relationship” when  he was a young kid living in northern New...

They Don’t Have to Be What They See  Told by Jordan Rodriguez  Written by Laurie Grobman  The main difference Jordan Rodriguez sees in Reading today from the Reading he grew up in  is the “loss of ‘neighbor’ in the word ‘neighborhood.’” In his community growing up,...

The N.A.M.E. Movement  Told by Jermel “Mel” Mitchell  Written by Kat Proudfoot Messerly and Laurie Grobman  Situational awareness is a key life skill Jermel “Mel” Mitchell knows well. Being aware of  one’s surroundings is crucial at all times--navigating the parking...

“That Could Have Been Me”  Told by Diamante  Written by Jocelyn Espinoza  For 17-year-old Diamante (not her real name), violence in Reading was always present.  Witnessing fights in elementary school, Diamante was confused because it wasn’t part of  her own life. But...