JACKSONVILLE, Fla. — Several local activists gathered in Durkeeville to discuss a new initiative to improve the area.
Diallo Sekou is a local and national activist who calls the Northside of Jacksonville home.
"For me I love the Northside, I'm from here, I came back here to build a house in this area, I'm raising my family, I have businesses here, and so do the people behind me," said Sekou.
He stood with several other activists from the area Wednesday to address recent violent crimes in Durkeeville and reveal a plan moving forward to help the area.
Sekou introduced the Sankofa Initiative, a plan to focus on strengthening families, access to opportunities and education.
Some of the key highlights of the initiative include high quality early child care, establishing local leadership, financial support for African American-owned businesses and access to financial counseling.
According to the activist, 98 percent of the community depends on opportunities outside their community for employment.
During the press conference Wednesday, Sekou emphasized that in order to move forward with their goals for the community, people need to step up and report what they know about crimes where they live.
"People need to turn the killers in, no one is going to come to a business in an area where people are being murdered every day," said Sekou.
On Jan. 1, a 70-year-old man was shot and killed in his home through his barred front door.
Back in November, two teenagers were shot and killed during a drive-by.
Both homicides have yet to be solved, and people in the area say it is because they fear for their own lives and retaliation.
Sekou said people can come forward with tips and information without being identified, and that's what they need to do.
He says that the community should do it for the families of those murdered, as well as the area where they live.
"They think that love and loyalty is hiding someone or riding with someone that just murdered someone that's life didn't deserve to be taken," said Sekou.
Sekou says transforming the area into a place with economic opportunity, better education and safe housing will not happen overnight. He said the Sankofa initiative will take time.
Several events will be held over the next six months to engage the public with the message they are trying to get across.
In May they will have the second annual Malcom X Festival and Parade, as well as Sankofa Saturdays which is designed for students ages 6 to 17 years old.
Latest News Headlines from Action News
WJAX
