Living for We: Season 2 now available
Hear the latest episode:
S2E8: A Second Chance
Young Black men often don’t get second chances in the U.S. criminal justice system — but a new pilot program in Cuyahoga County is trying to change that.
Take Andrew Hogan, for example. He was just 20 when he and his date were approached by the police. There was an illegal gun in his car, and that got him locked up. Andrew admits he knew he wasn’t old enough to legally have a gun, but he felt like he needed it to protect himself. After the arrest, he started to lose hope — he was facing serious charges and even lost his job.
But then Andrew was referred to the Cuyahoga County Common Pleas Court Violence Intervention Program — aka VIP. It’s a new program designed to help young people caught with a gun that hasn’t been used in a crime. Instead of punishment, the program offers a shot at redemption: support, a path to clear their record and a fresh start.
VIP was launched by Judge Brendan J. Sheehan, who also oversees it. In this episode, he explains that the goal is to keep young, nonviolent offenders from ending up as gun violence or homicide statistics. The program brings in peer mentors, trauma counselors and job placement help — all focused on helping young men, ages 18 to 26, from Cleveland neighborhoods hit hardest by gun violence.
The program runs on a three-year, $750,000 grant from the U.S. Department of Justice. While many violence intervention programs across the country have seen their funding cut recently, VIP has been lucky — its funding is still intact. That said, some of its key partners are facing cuts, including the Cleveland Peacemakers Alliance, which is run by our podcast co-host Myesha Watkins.
Listen to Season 2: Keep Ya Head Up
In the Cleveland area, and in cities across the country, teens and young adults are dying in our streets – victims of gun violence. There's no question: it’s an epidemic. It's the leading cause of death for teenagers. Young Black men often feel like they a target on their backs. Kids in schools face metal detectors, police presence in the hallways, and shootings at football games. Jr. High students are carrying ghost guns.
This season, we're asking what can be done to reverse cycles of violence and retaliation when shooters value their reputation over their own lives. We know where this violence occurs, we know what drives it. How can we start Living For We and decrease the violence?
Every bullet fired creates two victims: the child in front of the gun, and the one pulling the trigger.
We'll talk with people who are navigating streets where gun violence is normalized – seen as no big deal, while at the same time ruining lives. We'll listen to those fighting for their children and their communities, putting in work to uplift their neighborhoods and create meaningful change. This is more than a podcast, it's a resource for communities tired of chaos and ready to build peace.
Has gun violence impacted you or someone you love? Share your story. Your story might be shared in an upcoming episode.
Season 1
In 2020, cityLAB of Pittsburgh released a study that ranked Cleveland dead last in terms of livability for Black women. On Living For We, we talk to Cleveland's Black women about their experiences at work, at school, in the doctor's office, and in community with each other in an attempt to answer the question... is Cleveland really as bad as they say it is for Black women?
Resources
This is more than a podcast, it's a resource for communities tired of chaos and ready to build peace. Click here to see a list of resources.
Award-winning podcast
Living for We has received the following honors:
- Regional Murrow Award: Excellence in Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion
- Webby People's Voice: Diversity, Equity & Inclusion
- Davey Awards: Diversity, Equity & Inclusion (Gold), Series (Gold), Society & Culture (Silver)
- W3 Awards: Cause Awareness (Gold)