ST. LOUIS — St. Louis native Darren Seals has had enough of the teen violence in the city.
Many of the crimes, committed by young people, have consistently happened on the city's north side where Seals grew up.
"The one thing many teenagers are not doing is they're not listening," he said. "They're not grabbing it. They think if it happens, it happens. If it doesn't, then it doesn't. We don't want to hear that. We want them to know they can make it. You can be anything you want to be."
Seals served three years in prison. He was shot 13 times and locked up more than 60 times. About five years ago, he turned a former church near Emma and Mimika Avenues into the Sankofa Mentoring and Training Center.
"I was in trouble from the time I was 16 until I was in my early 30's. I got tired, so a lot of other guys, real gangsters, people who truly know the streets, also go tired," Seals said.
On Friday, the 53-year-old will team up with at least 70 other former felons for what Seals calls "The Sit Down."
Former drug dealers and gang leaders who survived dangerous streets in St. Louis plan to hold a roundtable discussion to talk about ways they can deter more teens from turning to a life of crime.
"I've been to jail," he said. "I did wrong. I messed up my credit, can't get a job and I was stereotyped. I want to tell our young people don't come this route. Go do something different with your life."
"I'm one of few men in this city who lived that life. I was a drug dealer and drug lord," Dennis Haymon said.
Since then, the 70-year-old convicted murderer has become a business owner, author and ordained elder. He said he's ready to sit down and reach teens before it's too late for them.
"The youth crime is out of control in our city. We're not looking for a total 180-degree turn in a day, but some sort of movement," Haymon said.
"Earlier this year, my 15-year-old friend was shot and killed in the city," 14-year-old Deion Moore said.
Moore has been in Darren Seals' mentoring program for two years.
"It helped me find a job and I've been enjoying it. Yes, I do believe they can make a difference if they can get the right team and right audience," Moore said.
"Women are welcomed, but I want as many fathers, uncles, sons, men as possible to come sit down with us, and let's talk about these issues," Seals said.
The "Sit Down" will be held 6 p.m. Friday at the Sankofa Mentoring and Training Center, located at 6100 Emma Ave. in north St. Louis.
On Saturday, the men plan to canvass the city and spread positive messages to teens and young adults.
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