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A poem can carry what a kid can’t say out loud. That truth runs through our conversation with Malik Jordan, facilitator and Safe Passage team member at Teens With A Purpose in Norfolk. Malik traces his path from an angry 11-year-old to a mentor who helps teens express emotion, find purpose, and build safer neighborhoods—with art, with gardens, and with consistent care.

We dig into how creative youth development turns vulnerability into strength. Poetry, music, and visual art aren’t just hobbies here; they’re practical tools for emotional literacy and leadership. Malik shares why reading a poem to his father was easier than starting a hard talk, and how healing circles and mental health first aid create space for grief, frustration, and hope. We also get real about manhood: the pressure to bottle feelings, how anger masks hurt, and what it looks like to lead at home by naming emotions and solving problems together.

Then we step outside. Purpose Park—TWP’s half-acre urban farm—feeds families, pays teens, and transforms a block into a stage for community. HIPterns learn horticulture, earn certifications, and see new careers in landscaping and city work. A community fridge shares harvests with nearby neighborhoods, while internships at cultural institutions expand skills and networks. On the academic side, TWP pairs daily support with clear expectations, contributing to a 95 percent graduation rate by linking homework to personal goals and creative growth.

Safety and dignity guide the work. As credible messengers, TWP staff walk the neighborhood, build trust, and deescalate conflict without policing. Malik recounts separating a heated confrontation near a youth practice and mediating afterward to stop retaliation. When a life was lost near the center, the team turned a makeshift memorial into lasting art with melted glass—proof that remembrance can heal and inspire. If you care about youth empowerment, violence prevention, food security, and real-world skills, this conversation offers a grounded blueprint for change.

If the story moves you, share it with a friend, subscribe for more conversations like this, and leave a review to help others find the show. Want to get involved or enroll a teen? Visit twpthemovement.org and follow @TWPthemovement.

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