Community gathers for soul food cookout in Sacramento
“Stop the Violence,” that’s the message organizers hope to spread as they bring the Del Paso Heights neighborhood of Sacramento together for a soul food cookout. People gathered on Sunday from 12-6 pm “An event like this here helps because it creates unity,” said Samuel Kinsey, an organizer of the event.It featured food and music at Del Paso Park near Del Paso Heights Elementary School. The cookout is an annual get-together in the community but, Kinsey said, organizers wanted it to include the theme of “stop the violence” this year.”The more we discuss it, the more awareness and the more people are getting involved in helping to stop it,” Kinsey said. Gloria Vice volunteered her time, serving up food to those who showed up.”We gotta give out to the youngsters so we can bring the youngsters together to show them there’s other ways to enjoy yourself than killing each other because that’s all they’re doing now. They’re just killing each other and hurting each other. No, we gotta bring back to the community,” Vice said.When she talks about people turning their lives around, she speaks from experience.”When I first got my first drugs, I ran out here to the Heights. So, I know how it is because I lost all my 20s and 30s in jail, but now I work for the state, 17 years,” Vice said.She explained that she works as a caregiver for the elderly.”Don’t say because you went to jail y ou can’t change your life because I’m one of them that did,” she said.She said the key to that was surrounding herself with the right people, which is what the cookout is all about making positive connections in the community. Kinsey said the cookout is something he looks forward to each year, where he can reunite with old friends and make new ones.”This community means everything to me. I love this community,” Kinsey said.
SACRAMENTO, Calif. —
“Stop the Violence,” that’s the message organizers hope to spread as they bring the Del Paso Heights neighborhood of Sacramento together for a soul food cookout.
People gathered on Sunday from 12-6 pm
“An event like this here helps because it creates unity,” said Samuel Kinsey, an organizer of the event.
It featured food and music at Del Paso Park near Del Paso Heights Elementary School. The cookout is an annual get-together in the community but, Kinsey said, organizers wanted it to include the theme of “stop the violence” this year.
“The more we discuss it, the more awareness and the more people are getting involved in helping to stop it,” Kinsey said.
Gloria Vice volunteered her time, serving up food to those who showed up.
“We gotta give out to the youngsters so we can bring the youngsters together to show them there’s other ways to enjoy yourself than killing each other because that’s all they’re doing now. They’re just killing each other and hurting each other. No , we gotta bring back to the community,” Vice said.
When she talks about people turning their lives around, she speaks from experience.
“When I first got my first drugs, I ran out here to the Heights. So, I know how it is because I lost all my 20s and 30s in jail, but now I work for the state, 17 years,” Vice said.
She explained that she works as a caregiver for the elderly.
“Don’t say because you went to jail you can’t change your life because I’m one of them that did,” she said.
She said the key to that was surrounding herself with the right people, which is what the cookout is all about making positive connections in the community.
Kinsey said the cookout is something he looks forward to each year, where he can reunite with old friends and make new ones.
“This community means everything to me. I love this community,” Kinsey said.