Coaches unite to fight a teen danger

Raymond and Karen, their two young sons, Dominique and Raymond Jr., Karen's sister Denise, and half a dozen of Santino's friends are on hand. Karen receives a certificate, and mumbles a few words. She begins to cry. Then the cheerleaders trot on. "One-Two-Three-Go-Team," they chant. Behind them a banner reads: "Make a Play to End Gun Violence."

"There are not too many people here," remarks Denise, of the half-empty gym. "But it's nice anyway."

"True, it's not yet a groundswell," says Mr. Aron. "But more coaches are getting on board, more schools are dedicating games, more sport teams are getting interested, and momentum is growing."

The Coaches Against Violence campaign kicked off last football season in Washington with eight schools participating. This basketball season 15 schools, including ones in Detroit, Michigan, Florida, and California, have held dedications.

The Golden State Warriors and other NBA teams have indicated they want to join the campaign and dedicate some of their games next season.

"These are communities where role models are often hard to find," explains former NBA Coach Don Casey, a spokesman for the campaign. "Of course, we need parents and churches to play their parts, but coaches can be real agents for change in this fight."

Casey's own son, Sean, died several years ago in a handgun incident. "You wouldn't think that happens to an NBA coach," he says. "Well, it can. And to say there is nothing to do about it just isn't good enough."

Denise and Raymond leave the game early. The young kids are tired, and Denise is ready, too. She used to be a cheerleader herself, "once upon a time," she says, and likes a good game, but today she is not in the mood. "Maybe this dedication service will remind everyone," she says. "Of what?" she is not sure. "That life is precious," she suggests. "That they are lucky to be alive."

As Santino's family leaves, Alliance staffers are already preparing to head down Highway 395 to Anacostia, a different district neighborhood where another dedication ceremony is now underway.

At Anacostia High School, instead of their usual red miniskirts, the cheerleaders have donned T-shirts emblazoned with the number "8" and have little white teddy bears clipped to their jeans. The 7th D.C. Police District, which includes Anacostia, recorded 52 homicides last year - six of them Anacostia students, all killed by guns.

This is the second dedication ceremony here this season, and yet it is still unclear to what extent the campaign's message is reaching its intended audience.

"What is the number eight for?" the cheerleaders are asked. It has something to do with young people in America dying... or guns..."or something," they answer.

One girl thinks eight kids die a year. Another thinks it's eight a second. Someone tries to calculate, adding up the number of slain schoolmates she knew personally.

No one is sure, but it's time for a cheer: "One-Two" they chant, clapping and leaping in the air, "Let's-Win-Go-Go."

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