Isaac Allen is 14 years old and a freshman at Reservoir High School in Fulton, Maryland. When his friend Xavier Young was gunned down behind the Whiskey Bottom Shopping Center in North Laurel in late 2017, he knew he had to take a stand to make a difference in the lives of youth like him.
Young was killed in a “drug deal that went wrong,” according to Allen. The Baltimore Sun reported that three teens were arrested and charged as adults in the killing of Young, who was shot in the head and died at Johns Hopkins Hospital on October 30, 2017.
Like Allen, Young was only 14 years old.
Allen is calling for “less gun violence and more resolving of issues without fighting.” His course of action is basketball.
Last week, the Youth Council of the local Howard County NAACP put on its 1st Annual Hoopin’ for Teen Health 3-on-3 Co-Ed Charity Basketball Tournament at Wilde Lake High School.
Allen is the 2nd Vice President of the Youth Council. In his quest to get teens engaged and raise money to support teen health he and his volunteers engaged the broader community for support. He connected with Harris Teeter, Weiss, Howard County Police Department, Next Generation Leadership Academy, It Takes a Village Inc., Voices for Change, Teen Club, The Council of Elders, Prospect Believe, and Reservoir High School Alpha Achievers.
Allen is pushing for Howard County to invest more in the youth. “We are the richest county in Maryland and we should [be a] better role model,” he said.
He has a heart for people, including the homeless. Allen explained that the Youth Council feeds the homeless twice per year, but more is needed. He wants county government more involved with the homeless and the plight of the youth. He said, “The County should use money for something different, including better school programs and programs for feeding the poor.”
The basketball competition was not the big success he had hoped for, but Allen was undaunted. “It kind of met my expectation considering it’s the first one.” The next event is set for April 28th. If all goes according to plan, there will be a third event for the championship.
The Youth Council is hoping for higher participation from ball players and spectators. There is a nominal fee to play and to attend.
Allen took time out from the event to chat with the Guilford Gazette. He came across as a young man with a passion for civic responsibility. He plans to take up a position as the president of the Youth Council next year. He is also a member of the National Society of Black Engineers that meets locally at the Savage Library.
___________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________
UPDATE to original article: Isaac Allen was elected and sworn in as president of the Howard County NAACP Youth Council on April 19, 2018.
___________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________
According to Richard Butler, Jr., an advisor at NSBE, Allen got the attention of a dean at North Carolina A&T at an engineering competition in Pittsburgh. The school is offering Allen a scholarship to attend the school.
As for the tournament, which is Allen’s present concern, he said, “We need more teams and more [spectators] to come out and watch.”
To get more information on the event and to learn more about the NAACP Youth Council, visit http://www.howardcountynaacpyouthcouncil.org/.