BY: Lisa Sterling

Street violence, gangs and guns have plagued Toronto’s black community, resulting in the tragic deaths of young men and women, now only remembered as victims of circumstance. One of the most high-profile incidents of gun violence resulted in the death of Amon Beckles, 18, shot dead on the steps of Toronto West Seventh Day Adventist Church while attending the funeral of a young man.

In a response to the neighbourhood’s criminal element and intimidation faced by congregation members, the church, in association with?the African Canadian Christian Network, created the Rexdale Outreach Choir (R.O.C.), a pro-peace, non-sectarian youth group choir for people between the ages of 13 and 24.

Paulette Lewis, chair of the project, explains the motivation behind R.O.C.’s creation: “So many negative images arise when people hear ‘Rexdale.’  R.O.C. gives youth an opportunity to both give back to and promote their neighbourhood in a positive light.”

Only two years out, R.O.C. already boasts a powerful, 45- member force. Directed by Vernon Smith and Deon Flash, R.O.C. performs gospel, among other music genres, at special events, churches, nursing homes and shelters where audiences often start singing and?clapping along. At the R.O.C.’s 2009 summer showcase, soloist Letesha Byran, 17, was visibly shaken. “It was the Holy Spirit,” she says. “It comes and takes over you, and you feel like a weight has been lifted off your shoulders. God was moving.”

And the dynamic group’s talents go beyond music. They also dance and act in skits that demonstrate excellence regardless of situation or circumstance. In a skit titled Diamonds in the Rough, R.O.C. members can be heard shouting statements of self-actualization: “We have hopes and dreams and we’re looking for opportunities. We want to go to college and university; some of us are in college or university and we’re heading in the right direction!”

What’s next??Choir manager Janice Smith shares her vision enthusiastically: “Our goal is to ensure that individual R.O.C. members continue to learn valuable skills that will make them successful, positive contributors to society, so they can turn around and give back to Rexdale.” Then concludes: “We want the choir to perform on a larger scale too… where we have the whole world R.O.C.-ing!”