Community gathers in square for youth prayer

ELYRIA — Local leaders gathered at Ely Square on Saturday to pray for Lorain County's youths. The event was hosted by the Elyria NAACP. Organization President Dee Tolbert said there's a dark cloud over the county that they needed to pray for God to heal. Elyria Mayor Frank Whitfield said it seemed appropriate for people to be at the square praying. He called the past couple weeks the toughest of his administration. It started with Elyria's first homicide of the year, Caree Cannon. Whitfield said Cannon was his neighbor who he watched grow up. A man reportedly involved with the murder was also someone Whitfield watched grow up. He then lost two other friends in fatal car crashes over the past week. "There's no finger you can point at it," he said. "It's not like 'Oh, this is the direction where it's coming from.' When things like that happen, I know it's bigger than what we just see in the natural." He urged people to pray for the families, especially the mothers. He also urged for people to go into the field to care for young people. Whitfield said people can't be afraid of youths, but instead have to let them know they care. Local activist Keandra Booker it's important for people to come together — the church, the city and the community. She said it takes a village to raise children. It can't be children raising other children, Booker said. Instead the whole community has to rally together to help children and parents. Lorain County Joint Vocational School Superintendent Glenn Faircloth said men have to do a better job of mentoring young men in the county. He said it too often falls on just the women's shoulders, and that men have to step up. Councilwoman Brenda Davis, D-2nd Ward, said City Council is hurting with the rest of the city. She said the Council stands behind the residents and is there to help and listen. During the event, there were prayers of encouragement for youths, of mentorship for youths and for unity. Lorain County Commissioner Matt Lundy called for prayers for civility. He said there's too much hate and division in the country right now with too many nasty words. He said they have to teach and call for love instead of hate. Booker encouraged people to not just walk away after the prayers were over, but to take action and get involved in some way. Contact Laina Yost at (440) 329-7121 or lyost@chroniclet.com.