EAST ST. LOUIS, Ill. – A 16-year-old boy from East St. Louis was shot and killed over the weekend in Madison, Illinois.

As the Major Case Squad of Greater St. Louis searches for a suspect, community leaders and survivors of gun violence on both sides of the Mississippi River are renewing urgent calls to steer young people away from a path of violence.

“The only people that can change the streets are the ones that messed it up,” Darren Seals, founder of the Sankofa Unity Center, said.

His words reflect a growing frustration and determination among grassroots leaders. Seals’ unity center serves as a place of hope in Walnut Park, especially for those stuck in the cycle he once escaped. After serving time in prison and surviving 13 gunshot wounds, Seals now mentors at-risk youth.

“Just com

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