Latest news with #VoiceoftheYouth
Yahoo
22-05-2025
- Yahoo
Event at City Hall promotes healing, unity among young people affected by gun violence
The Brief The Mayor's Office of Youth Engagement puts on an evening of creative expression as an outlet for youth. Non-profits spoke about resources for youth in need of mentorship, grief counseling and activities. The family of Philly rapper LGP Qua known as the Voice of the Youth attended. He was murdered on May 11th. CENTER CITY - City leaders joined together to spread a message of healing and strength and action in Center City Wednesday night, with an event focusing on amplifying community voices and preventing violence on the streets. What we know An emotional gathering at City Hall happened Wednesday evening with empowered young people who are carrying the weight of gun violence happening around them and taking those close to them. Youth displayed their talents from singing, to rapping and spoken word to promote healing and unity. The Mayor's Office of Youth Engagement put on the event to uplift young people in the midst of the gun violence crisis by giving them a creative outlet. What they're saying "How do I channel my anger into something creative? And so today, even with the reflections, the creative reflections of young people through singing, spoken word and rap. Just describing their feelings through music and art," said Shania Bennett who is the director of the Mayor's Office of Youth Engagement and organizer of the event. "I think we are really battling hopelessness. Young people not feeling like they have a place to go and a place to turn to. What do I do when I am grieving, what do I do when I am emotional?" said Bennett about what she says young people are experiencing. She says resources are key. "How I lead my office is being a connector and making sure young people know what options they have other than what they normally would engage in," she said. Paying tribute Many who attended paid tribute to Philly rap artist Qidere Johnson known as LGP Qua and the Voice of the Youth. He was murdered on Mother's Day. His mom Tamara Davis and other family were in attendance. "He opened my eyes up to so much more of the struggle of our young people that I thought I was aware of," said Eric Westbrook with the Office of Safe Neighborhoods. Big picture view The night also highlighted youth-based non-profits. "Anybody that needs any type of mentorship for the youth, we're in Hunting Park. We are at the Tree House and we are holding it down for all the kids," said Ryan Harris who is the CEO and founder of As I Plant This Seed. Those gathered also remembered lives lost with the goal of working together to help save lives. "Today's event is a beautiful reminder of why this work matters because the youth matter," said George Lane, chairperson of the Philadelphia Youth Commission. What you can do For more information on the Mayor's Office of Youth Engagement, check the website, here.
Yahoo
21-05-2025
- Yahoo
Mother of Philly rapper LGP QUA prepares for public viewing, celebration of love
The Brief Tamara Davis, the mother of slain Philly rapper, 30-year-old Qidere Johnson, also known as LGP QUA, is remembering her son as the "Voice of the Youth." Surveillance video shows two of the three suspects police are looking for. Family members are pleading for the shooters to turn themselves in. PHILADELPHIA - The mom of 30-year-old Qidere Johnson, also known as LGP QUA, is speaking out after her son was fatally shot by multiple suspects who are being sought by police. What we know On Monday, the Philadelphia Police released a surveillance video of two suspects who they say were wearing masks when they shot Qua in an apparent robbery. It happened on the 3900 block of M Street in Juniata Park just before 5 p.m. Sunday the evening of May 11, Mother's Day. Police say the two got away in a black Nissan Altima driven by another person. That car has since been found by the police. What they're saying "I'm still trying to process this," said Tamara Davis. It's been almost a week and a half since her son was taken from her on the day she should've been celebrating being a mom. Davis says her only child left her house and never came back. "I'm dealing with it the best I can because I'm still waiting to see my son walk up the street from Mother's Day," she said. This Thursday reality will begin to set in when she'll be allowed to view her son's body for the first time. "As a mother it's hard. I spoke to God. I gotta let him go and I'm fighting with that," said Davis. Her son, 30-year-old Qidere Johnson is known to Philly and around the world as LGP Qua. He was a rapper but even deeper than that he was a poet, a storyteller and was known widely as The Voice of the Youth. "My son was light. I knew he was gifted," said Davis. Qua rapped powerfully about the challenges and disparities of the city and its young people. "Taking my son, they messed up," she said about the people who shot him to death. Davis sat alongside Qua's two children. "I miss him and I love him," said his 6-year-old son Shyair. His daughter Sanyi is 10 years old. "We're going to miss that he was funny. His funniness," she said. Keisha Washington is urging the suspects to turn themselves in. "You running and trying to hide is not worth it. Ya'll took somebody special. Nobody deserves to die from gun violence," said Washington who is a cousin. Davis has this to say to the youth who looked up to and supported her son. "You don't have to be amongst the followers. Be a leader and I knew my son that's what he was," she said. What's next A public viewing will be held Friday, May 23, from 2 p.m. to 8 p.m. at Batchelor Brothers & Jones Chapel at 7112 North Broad Street in Philadelphia. The Service of Love will take place on Saturday, May 24 at the MET at 858 North Broad Street in Philadelphia. The viewing is at 8 a.m. and the service is at 10 a.m. The Source The information in this story is from Philadelphia police and the vctim's mother.
Yahoo
12-05-2025
- Yahoo
Philadelphia rapper and anti-violence activist LGP Qua killed in shooting
A Philadelphia rapper who adopted the moniker of the "Voice of the Youth" was shot and killed Sunday afternoon in Northeast Philadelphia. Qidere Johnson, known as LGP Qua, a rapper who spoke about gun violence and promoted positivity in Philadelphia, was fatally shot in the city's Juniata Park neighborhood just before 4:40 p.m., according to the Philadelphia Police Department. The 30-year-old suffered multiple gunshot wounds and was rushed to Temple University Hospital. He was pronounced dead shortly before 5 p.m., police said. MORE: Woman charged with making false 911 call amid probe into rapper Young Scooter's death Meek Mill, one of Philadelphia's most famous rappers, took to Instagram to show respect for Johnson in the wake of his death. "Killing ambitious young bulls like this on Mother's Day is a Philly type of thing," Meek Mill said in an Instagram story post Sunday. "S--- will make you different. Prayers to your family, and let's collect some of them guns. S--- sad out here." Johnson gained widespread attention for the freestyles he posted on Instagram. His first viral freestyle emerged in 2017, when he rapped about the various issues affecting Philadelphia at that time, including police brutality and violence among teenagers. The video currently has 1 million views on Instagram. His most successful freestyle video was released in 2022, receiving 1.6 million views, featuring him rapping about the alarming number of murders occurring in Philadelphia at the time. MORE: Meek Mill takes on criminal justice reform to 'shed light on people who don't have a voice' Homicides, mostly shootings, have decreased in recent years in Philadelphia. There have been 74 homicides in Philadelphia so far this year, a decrease of 21.28% compared to the same time last year, according to police data. No arrests have been made, and police have not released any details about a suspect or the circumstances leading to the shooting. A reward of $20,000 is being offered for information that leads to an arrest and conviction. If you have any information on Johnson's murder, call the Philadelphia Police at 215-686-TIPS (8477). Philadelphia rapper and anti-violence activist LGP Qua killed in shooting originally appeared on
12-05-2025
Philadelphia rapper and anti-violence activist LGP Qua killed in shooting
A Philadelphia rapper who adopted the moniker of the "Voice of the Youth" was shot and killed Sunday afternoon in Northeast Philadelphia. Qidere Johnson, known as LGP Qua, a rapper who spoke about gun violence and promoted positivity in Philadelphia, was fatally shot in the city's Juniata Park neighborhood just before 4:40 p.m., according to the Philadelphia Police Department. The 30-year-old suffered multiple gunshot wounds and was rushed to Temple University Hospital. He was pronounced dead shortly before 5 p.m., police said. Meek Mill, one of Philadelphia's most famous rappers, took to Instagram to show respect for Johnson in the wake of his death. "Killing ambitious young bulls like this on Mother's Day is a Philly type of thing," Meek Mill said in an Instagram story post Sunday. "S--- will make you different. Prayers to your family, and let's collect some of them guns. S--- sad out here." Johnson gained widespread attention for the freestyles he posted on Instagram. His first viral freestyle emerged in 2017, when he rapped about the various issues affecting Philadelphia at that time, including police brutality and violence among teenagers. The video currently has 1 million views on Instagram. His most successful freestyle video was released in 2022, receiving 1.6 million views, featuring him rapping about the alarming number of murders occurring in Philadelphia at the time. Homicides, mostly shootings, have decreased in recent years in Philadelphia. There have been 74 homicides in Philadelphia so far this year, a decrease of 21.28% compared to the same time last year, according to police data. No arrests have been made, and police have not released any details about a suspect or the circumstances leading to the shooting. A reward of $20,000 is being offered for information that leads to an arrest and conviction. If you have any information on Johnson's murder, call the Philadelphia Police at 215-686-TIPS (8477).
