NewsLocal News

Actions

Teacher who was with Sandra Parks the day she died, speaks out

Posted at 6:35 PM, Nov 21, 2018
and last updated 2018-11-21 19:35:49-05

Kimanzi Edari, a teacher with “Arts At Large” was with Sandra Parks Monday, just hours before the 13-year-old was shot and killed in her own home.

Edari leads a writing and spoken word workshop at Keefe Avenue Elementary School and says Sandra stood out in class.

“I vividly remember on Monday, the kids were getting a little wild and talkative, and she stood up and calmed everyone down,” Edari said. “She was wise beyond her years. Almost like a mother figure. She told them she needed everyone to settle down so we could do a good project.”

Edari met with Sandra’s mom at a community vigil Tuesday.

“To have this happen anytime, especially right before Thanksgiving, is just awful,” Edari said. “We are going to let her family know that we as a community don’t tolerate this. When one loses a child, we all lose a child. We are raising money for them, but also trying to support them emotionally as they’re left planning a funeral for their little girl at the start of the holiday season.”

Sandra’s winning essay on violence in Milwaukee has gone viral in the days after her death. Edari says the 13-year-old wrote many other wonderful essays and poems that need to be heard.

“We’re going to get her works together and publish them, and make sure the proceeds go to her family,” she said. “The whole world needs to hear this child’s voice. A voice that was silenced way too soon and so unfairly.”

The voice of the neighborhood where the crime happened is also getting louder. Their message is focused on how to stop these senseless shootings.  Neighbors, friends, community activists and total strangers are working together to form neighborhood watches, assign block captains and have monthly meetings. 

“In this case we need community involvement, parent involvement, and most definitely job creation and other programs, so we can get some of these young people off the streets and lower the crime rate,” Edari said.