Why Mya Minutes?
I originally started this blog to discuss politics and other goings on around Chicago. That changed on July 14, 2008 when Mya Lyons, aged 9 was found sexually assaulted and stabbed to death in an alley on the southwest side of Chicago. I’m not naive. I have known others who have been killed, and I realize this happens far too often (especially in our innercities), but Mya’s story changed my life.
She was a happy, beautiful little girl who loved the color pink. Other children loved her and you couldn’t help but smile when you listened to her stories and optimistic look on life. For someone to not only rob her and her family of this beautiful life, but to also have NEVER been apprehended is unacceptable. We cannot let her memory be forgotten. We cannot allow even one more senseless, violent death.
During the funeral, her father urged all parents to take “Mya minutes” to look at their children and realize how special those moments are. I feel strongly that if we took “Mya minutes” and looked at all children not just our own in that way, we could stop youth violence.
