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Ashley's Garden/Team Redemption

For the Team Redemption Boxing Program, our goal is to tackle the issues of youth gun violence, youth trauma, treatment for youth trauma, and youth homelessness in East Baltimore -- one of the centers of the gun violence epidemic in Baltimore City. We aim to serve youth, aged 13 to 18, dealing with gun violence, trauma, the opioid epidemic, and homelessness in the McElderry Park neighborhood. This project touches on a deeply tragic and personal note: On April 29, 2017 my younger sister was gunned down by an 18-year old male who was homeless and staying with her. Since my sister’s death, my life mission has been to provide a safe haven for our East Baltimore youth -- an oasis where youth can have no worries or concerns, and can show up at any point, even if just to talk. We want to engage our youth, in a positive way, that allows them to be themselves, while also becoming physically, mentally and emotionally strong. We encourage self-discipline, respect, empowerment, and love, through the martial art of boxing. Our youth will learn to ‘float like butterflies, and sting like bees.”