SWITCH Youth participant ‘Jaden’ has the ‘means and the skills’ for success

Jaden was not in a good place when he entered Memphis Allies’ SWITCH Youth program. At age 17, he was facing an aggravated robbery charge, and he had recently lost a brother in a fatal shooting.

“He was really quiet, kind of hard to figure him out,” said SWITCH Youth Life Coach Briant Kelly. “It took six or seven months before he would get into the details about what happened with his brother (a dispute over stolen property). It was still weighing on him. And he didn’t know who to trust.”

Still, Kelly saw Jaden possessed leadership qualities. Formerly, he used them in a gang. But after Kelly helped him attain employment at a fast-food restaurant, Jaden quickly became an assistant manager. He returned to school and did well there, too.

“He was consistent going to work and staying out of the street life,” Kelly said. “He was facing peer pressure, but he was resisting.”

Eventually, he got a full-time warehouse job while finishing out high school and even took on overtime hours.

“Very strong, very resilient,” said Naomi Haynes, a SWITCH Youth clinical specialist. “And he has a work ethic like no kid I’ve ever seen.”

Now 19, Jaden’s aggravated robbery charge has been dismissed. But as someone who lived the street life, Jaden still has to deal with the past coming back around. Like when a peer identified someone involved in the incident that claimed his brother’s life.

The message from his associate was clear: If you’re ready for revenge, we’re ready to help you. Retribution is a huge driver in Memphis’ gun violence, with one shooting, on average, leading to four more.

Jaden walked away, later telling Kelly, “I appreciate the things you’ve told me because I’m not even going to entertain that.”

Said Haynes: “All the kids have a safety plan, but Jaden’s smart about how to remove himself from situations. He has coping mechanisms for his anger.”

‘Just who he is’

Jaden has faced other harsh realities in his young life, including having another close family member serving a long prison term. This is why Kelly says Jaden is not shy with friends who occasionally pop up to offer a way back into the old life. Jaden’s time in SWITCH Youth has afforded him opportunities to learn genuine decision-making skills, and how to regulate his emotions.

“I’ve seen him tell a guy no to his face, and say, ‘Hey, let’s go fill out some work applications,’” Kelly said.

Haynes has only known Jaden for a few months, but describes him as “responsive and direct,” adding, “He has proved to be honest.”

Jaden is also motivated to eventually work with youth who are caught up in the same things he once was – guns, gangs and drugs.

“Not only does he have the experience he could share, but it’s just who he is,” Haynes said. “He would be a great fit as a mentor. He has the means and the skills to be a successful young man. I look forward to seeing the person he becomes.”

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