Galaxy Star Peacemakers
2627 Carter Avenue
Nashville, TN 37206
PH: 615 457 2217
FAX: 615 650 5437
© 2010

Peace Maker News

May 11, 2009

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE:

CLEMMIE GREENLEE NAMED 2009 SOROS JUSTICE FELLOW

Nashville, TN - Galaxy Star is proud to announce that Clemmie Greenlee, co-founder of Galaxy Star and former Nashvillian of the year, has been awarded the 2009 Soros Justice Fellowship for her work within the community for organizing gang members to become leaders within their communities and make a positive difference now and for the future. Clemmie beat out 200 other applicants within the Nashville area to win this award.

Greenlee is among a group 17 outstanding individuals from 14 states to receive Soros Justice Fellowships from the Open Society Institute. This group includes lawyers, advocates, scholars, and journalists who will tackle issues from death penalty reform and the criminalization of immigrants to juvenile justice and the challenges of parenting in prison. Greenlee was a standout, receiving special recognition for working with current and former gang members to become advocates for reform.

In 2003 Greenlee’s own son was murdered in street violence, and her own previous lifestyle saw her entangled in the criminal justice system for nearly half her life. After graduating from the Magdalene recovery program Greenlee helped start and run a true loaves and fishes program called Galaxy Star Drug Awareness and organization that advocates for anti-violence, HIV testing, education and early intervention, and homeless outreach.

Greenlee has been honored for her work on many occasions including being named Nashvillian of the Year by the Nashville Scene in 2007. Numerous press outlets including USA Today and Voice of America radio have recognized her for her work.

For more information on Clemmie Greenlee, Galaxy Star or how you can help support this valuable organization, visit www.galaxystarda.org. For more information about the 2009 Soros award recipients visit their website at www.soros.org.

Clemmie Greenlee! The Nashville Scene’s Nashvillian of the year 2007

Our very own Clemmie Greenlee was chosen by the Nashville Scene (Nashville largest independent news paper) as Nashvillian of the year for 2007. The honor is bestowed upon those in the Nashville Community who are making a difference. And are proud to write in the Maker of Peace that Ms. Greenlee is a dedicated spokesperson for the Peace Maker Program and one of the first Peace Makers. As a matter of fact Clemmie along with founder and big brother Lonnie Greenlee was (and is) the inspiration for the Peace Maker Program.

Ms. Greenlee has long since been a supporter and defender of the downtrodden and defenseless. Clemmie and Galaxy Star Drug Awareness have launched a campaign to slow the tide of gun violence in the community. The campaign is a straight forward plea to the community to accept and Adopt a Pledge to end the violence in the lives of individuals, first, then the community as a whole.

Like many of us Ms. Greenlee has battled with addiction for much of her adult life. Clemmie as overcome great hurdles in her life to get to this point in her life. She feels as though the lifestyle she had grown so accustom to in addiction was but a lesson to be learned and corrective action taken. The 41 years old mother of a child who was shot down in the streets of Nashville, some believe over a gang related incident. The death of her only son has (along with the desire to stay clean from addiction and give back to her community) really motivated Clemmie to speak out about the gun violence that is still a growing sore spot in our city. And while The Scene has recognized Clemmie Greenlee as their Nashvillian of the year 2007, she is our Champion Nashvillian and our sister. (contact Clemmie @ Galaxy Star 262-0136)

Close to Home Neighborhood Drive-by Shooting, One Dies.

My family was shaken out of our sleep the other night by the sound of gun fire. I live in the Parkwood area and while I knew that violence can (and will) happen any where, this was very close to home. Not two doors away from my house. The house where I am attempting to raise 3 babies there was an exchange of gun fire and a murder. The incident reminds me of stories about the public display of gang and gun violence that permeates the inner cities of larger metropolitan areas in this country. This (in my opinion) is not the inner city, this is not (in my opinion) a hot zone where the residence and law enforcement officials are aware and zeroing in on this area as a potential hot bed of gun violence. This is a neighborhood where you have people who work everyday and raise children. And attempt to model positive characteristics for out children to follow. This particular night in the neighbor hood someone hosted a “house party” for a few of the teens in the neighborhood. Was the party properly chaperoned? I doubt it. I don't know the ages of the kids. I do know that my son (13 years old) knew about the party and knew most of the children who were at the party. He did not go to the party. But he has several friends who were at the party. That night I heard two sets of shots fired. There was one that woke my family and I. Then after we were up and discussing the dangers of guns and what to do in this type situation we heard another burst of gun fire. I’m thinking that we’ve flashed back to the days of the wild, wild west. Then I was glad that my son was not at the party. We received information later that the second round of gun shot were from some guys who drove by in a car and shot at the house, and party goers as they exited the party. Maybe the incident would have been overlooked, (as usual) had it not been for the body on the lawn of one of my neighbors. The body of a child (17 years old) who take been shot in the head by one of the bullets shot from a passing car. The boy was still alive despite the head wound, but was unresponsive and was rushed to the hospital where he died days later. This was not a (so-called) bad kid. My son knows (knew) the young lad and reports that he’s a pretty nice guy. I remember his face from the neighbor hood and always thought he was a respectable enough young man. But I have no idea what he may have been into. And I don't even care to speculate. I could write about blame but I feel as though I hold some of the blame myself. I’ve not been involved in the neighborhood with as many youth as I could. I have children to raise myself. My time is limited. But I (as well as many others) must get more involved. We cant be responsible for every child. We must place the bulk of the responsibility on the parents. But it takes a village.

Galaxy Star Presents.. Lets end the

Violence Enough is Enough Volume 1 The CD that will change your life is here.

The Peace Maker is proud to announce that the eagerly awaited CD from Galaxy Star Entertainment has been released to the general public. The CD can be found at the several record store in the city. As well as online at the website of the Galaxy Star Drug Awareness: www.galaxystarda.org The CD consisting of 14 Original songs by a Group of artist from the Nashville and Memphis Areas. ’Lets end The Violence, Enough is Enough is the dream of Galaxy Star Entertainment’s CEO Lonnie Greenlee. Mr. Greenlee is intending for the album to positively influence the youth of our community.

“Music influences our culture if its Hip-hop, gangsta rap and rap music in particular. It was not created overnight to corrupt the minds of our youth but was born out of a frustration. Teenagers are searching for role models and they find them in the appealing figures of rap artists who seem to understand their struggle and their pain, because the artists also went throungh similar situations. Youths had no other outlet of expression but through the art of rap music. According to the Children's Defense Fund, one young life is lost every two and one half hours due to violence. There have been over 30 Congressional hearing since 1954 related to youth violence and the entertainment industry. Some of our children can recite the latest rap song word for word and all at the same time have trouble reading at their grade level.” Mr. Greenlee observes while speaking with one of the writers. “His vision is to introduce to young people and the Music Industry by changing the words in the rap song will stop promoting and glorifying the drug, gang and violence which is a common part of our rap music today.” Greenlee has gathered artist from the community whom themselves been involved in violence and negative lifestyle that drug and alcohol can foster. The Peacemakers (the group is living a postive life style) and have over 20 years experience in writing and creating music. The CD is a collection of great, well thought out, eye opening and inspirational poetry. The idea behind the CD is to show and prove to the music entertainment industry that we can make good music and all at the same time we can begin to influence our youth in a more positive direction. Stop complaining and do something about the violence and support our youth. We have to change this world, not wait for it to change us. call: (615) 262-0136 or go on line: www.galaxystarda.org .

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