Gunfire ends two more lives as leaders search for answers

Serghino René

On May 6, 25-year-old Luis DoSouto was gunned down on Hamilton Street in Dorchester. Hours later, 24-year-old Alex Mendes, son of community activist Isaura Mendes — who lost her older son to violence 5 years prior — was fatally shot on Wendover Street. Those were just two of the seven murders that week in the heart of Boston’s Cape Verdean community. The Cape Verdean Community UNIDO responded immediately joined forces with Mayor Thomas Menino to speak out against the violence that has plagued their community.

“As a community we will not tolerate the violence of a few individuals that has jeopardized the safety and growth of others,” said Denise D. Gonsalves, UNIDO’s executive director.

Community leaders gathered at Dorchester’s Strand Theatre not only to respond to the violence, but to also to kick off Teen Empowerment’s 14th Annual Youth Conference, which took place last Saturday at the Park Plaza Hotel. The first Conference took place in 1993, and played a significant part in the “Boston Miracle,” producing a lasting truce among five rival gangs and setting the stage for a dramatic improvement in the lives of thousands of young people.

Menino made a direct appeal to parents, asking them to play a larger role in their children’s lives to help curb the violence.

“It’s vital that parents become more engaged,” said Menino. “[They] must find time to communicate with their children.”

Menino said there must be a level of input from the community in order for this peace initiative to take effect.

“The police can’t do it alone,” said Menino. “This is not a Cape Verdean problem or a police problem. It is our problem.”

Gonsalves stated that UNIDO is in the midst of developing a strategic plan that is specific to the Cape Verdean community and will work with other organizations to achieve peace.

“The key to doing this is to provide support for parents, developing groups specifically for fathers and calling all parents to get more involved in their child’s life,” said Gonsalves.

Other community leaders in attendance were Boston Police Department Commissioner Kathleen O’Toole and Sheriff Andrea Cabral.