A Community's Cry: Two Young Lives Lost, One Neighborhood's Urgent Plea for Change

Grand Rapids is once again grappling with profound grief and a chilling sense of déjà vu as a respected community leader publicly airs his deep frustration and demands immediate action. Calvin Holmes, president of the Oakdale Neighbors board, is "fed up" – a sentiment born from the agonizing reality that two teenagers have been killed exactly one year apart, in precisely the same spot.

The intersection of Griggs Street SW and Division Avenue has become a somber landmark, a site now tragically synonymous with the loss of young lives.

In October 2023, 16-year-old D’aja Terry was fatally shot there. Just last month, in October 2024, history repeated itself with horrifying precision when 17-year-old MarShawn Williams met the same fate. For Holmes, and for many in the community, this isn't just a coincidence; it's a glaring, painful indictment of a system that is failing its most vulnerable.

Holmes's voice resonates with a mixture of sorrow, anger, and unwavering determination.

He isn't merely mourning; he's issuing a passionate plea and a stern challenge to the adults of Grand Rapids. "This is on us now, the adults," he declared, his words cutting through the usual platitudes surrounding such tragedies. His message is clear and uncompromising: "It’s time to stop blaming the kids and start blaming the adults."

For too long, the narrative around youth violence has often centered on individual failings or knee-jerk punitive measures.

But Holmes argues for a fundamental shift in perspective. He posits that these repeated tragedies are symptoms of deeper societal neglect and a collective failure to provide the resources, opportunities, and safe environments that young people desperately need to thrive. When the community doesn't offer constructive pathways, the streets often provide destructive alternatives.

The heart of Holmes's impassioned call is for proactive, sustained community engagement.

It’s not enough to react after a life is lost; the time for intervention, mentorship, and support is long before violence becomes an option. He envisions a Grand Rapids where youth programs are robust and accessible, where safe spaces abound, and where every child feels seen, valued, and hopeful about their future.

This requires more than just law enforcement; it demands an ecosystem of care involving schools, churches, non-profits, local businesses, and individual citizens.

The double tragedy at Griggs and Division is a stark, heartbreaking reminder that the cycle of violence will not break itself. It requires intentional, collaborative effort from every segment of society.

Calvin Holmes, a leader deeply invested in his neighborhood's well-being, refuses to let these deaths be in vain. His "fed up" declaration is not an admission of defeat, but a rallying cry – a demand for collective responsibility and a heartfelt appeal for Grand Rapids to rise to the occasion, to protect its youth, and to ensure that no more lives are senselessly lost at that tragic intersection, or anywhere else within its community.