Teenage business owners host peace rally in Whitehaven
MEMPHIS, Tenn. — Two Whitehaven teens are saying enough is enough when it comes to crime.
Any other day, 17-year-old Jaicob Childress and 15-year-old Jaiden Childress would be behind the counter at their business, Butta Butter Cookies in Whitehaven, serving goodies to their customers.
However, the brothers were outside the shop on Saturday, serving their community differently.
The teens hosted a peace rally in their business’ parking lot as a call to end the violence in the community.
“This shows that we can come together,” Jaicob Childress said. “We can have a good time and it won’t be any violence.”
“In the city of Memphis, it’s still some good in the city,” Jaiden Childress said.
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Multiple families came out to enjoy music, hear from motivational speakers and of course, eat cookies.
K Durrell Cowan, the Founder and Executive Director of Heal 901, a non-profit that focuses heavily on violence prevention, was in attendance and praised the teenagers for doing their part to help bring the community together.
“We need our older generation to work with our younger generation to change the fabric of what we see in the city of Memphis,” Cowan said. “I’m glad that these young men are assisting in leading this charge.”
Jaicob and Jaiden Childress, the owners of Butta Butter Cookies. Butta Butter Cookies.
The event comes after weeks of countless violent incidents across the Bluff City, such as shootings and pedestrians being struck by vehicles.
The small business owners say they want to spread positivity in their community and be an inspiration for others their age.
“You don’t have to get everything out of the streets,” Jaicob Childress said. “You ain’t got to get everything from the block. You can cut grass. You carry somebody’s groceries and make money. You can pump gas. It’s a lot of hustling ways to make money.”
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