It wasn’t just the President who had those thoughts; every good parent has concerns when his/her teenage son leaves the house at night. As a parent of a black son, I am reminded of the times I waited for him to come home from the library, the Youth Center or running in Central Park (“Please wear something white or yellow…and please, please no hoodie.”)

My son was lucky he survived, but not without the police being in his life. There was that time his new down jacket was slashed on the subway. Of course the police held him and were trying to arrest him until I arrived. He was released when I got to the Police Station. It was easy because I am white. Now I have to worry about his two sons who sometimes wear hoodies while walking on the streets of a middle class community. I also have to walk with black male friends who know that if I were not with them, they could be stopped and frisked. These friends are professionals who usually have more degrees and better clothes than I do. Doesn’t matter. We try not to talk about it; nor do I ask them if they have been stopped and frisked; it’s too painful and embarrassing for both of us.

Trayvon Martin also impacts my professional life. My current work at iMapAmerica entails “building tools for youth to map their communities and populate the website ilivehere.info with people, places and opportunities all youth need to make better life decisions.” The mapping was conceived as a means to an end (first a 24/7 phone line and now a website). Over the years of working in over 100 communities in America, the Mapping activity has developed a life of it’s own by revealing what youth identify as opportunities important in their lives. The places youth list range from a Boys and Girls Club, a funeral home (“I buried two of my friends here.”) to cheap eats (“My parents both work at night.”)

The other revelation when young people map is how youth are viewed by adults in their communities. Too often the seemingly simple act of youth walking the streets in their community, equipped with clipboards, signage and picture I.D., creates questions and incidents. The most disturbing was when the Mapping Project Director was yelled at by a police officer for “being irresponsible” for “allowing three teenagers to be walking around without supervision.” These adolescents were 15 and 16; they had just mapped a youth center on a July afternoon. The young men were black.

In every community that is mapped, there is an “I live here” moment, where young people bring to adults some of the realities, good and bad, of growing up in America. Perhaps it is time we have a Map America Week when youth and adults walk their communities to find and connect to the people, places and opportunities youth need to grow up safe, healthy, productive citizens.  I do wonder however, is America prepared not to be suspicious or afraid when one of the Mappers is in their neighborhood, feels cold and decides to put up his hood to stay warm. For the sake of my grandson and every other black young man in America, I truly hope so.

Richard Murphy, CEO of iMapAmerica, formerly served as Commissioner of the NYC Department of Youth Services and founded the Rheedlen Foundation, now known as the Harlem Children’s Zone.

The research is from the Pew Research Center’s Internet and American Life Project and the Internet Center at ELON University in a new study, “Millennials will benefit and suffer due to their hyper-connected lives.”  Almost 50% of those interviewed for the study “expect that constantly connected teens and young adults will thirst for instant gratification” and often make quick shallow choices. That’s one of the reasons why iMap continues to “build tools for youth to map their communities and populate the website ilivehere.info, with the people, places and opportunities all youth need to make better life decisions.”

                                                                                    -Richard Murphy

In response to the growing importance Mapping plays in our work, Youthline America has changed its name to iMapAmerica.  We will continue to provide the same products and service but will be better streamlined to achieve our mission of building tools to empower youth and communities.