In the heart of Southwest D.C., one organization is combating gun violence with a two-pronged approach: security and opportunity. GOODProjects, a local nonprofit dedicated to empowering youth, has found itself on the front lines of community safety while simultaneously expanding its programs through a partnership with the NFL Players Association (NFLPA).
After incidents of violence near Dunbar High School and the nearby King Greenleaf Recreation Center, home to GOODProjects’ after-school programs, the organization took a major step to protect children by hiring armed security.
Darius Baxter, GOODProjects’ chief engagement officer, didn’t make this decision lightly.
“We’ve had shootings in broad daylight that forced us into lockdown,” Baxter told The Informer. “It became clear that business as usual wasn’t going to cut it anymore.”
The urgency of the situation was driven home by a chilling near-miss. A mother and her 12-year-old honor roll student barely escaped injury when a stray bullet pierced their car, embedding itself in the door inches from the child’s face. It’s the kind of incident that keeps Baxter up at night — and propels him forward.
“The current access to firearms in the District does speak to the larger issue of gun control in this country. D.C. as a jurisdiction has some of the harshest gun control laws in the country, yet we find guns easily accessible to young people,” the chief engagement officer explained.
For Baxter, the fight to end gun violence is personal. At the age of 9, he lost his father, a Metropolitan Police Department lieutenant, to gun violence. That tragedy now fuels his mission to ensure no other child suffers the same fate.
But GOODProjects isn’t just playing defense. Even as the organization grapples with immediate safety concerns, it’s planting seeds for a brighter future.
The security is just one step in GOOD Projects’ fervent work to provide a safe space and opportunities for youth. For the second year running, GOODProjects has been named the Official Youth Charitable Partner of the NFLPA, a designation that comes with a $25,000 grant.
“This partnership is a game-changer,” Baxter said. “It allows us to expand our summer camp and even start a youth football league. We’re giving these kids positive outlets and role models — things that can make a real difference in their lives.”
Leslie Isler, manager of the NFLPA’s Professional Athletes Foundation, emphasized the importance of the work GOODProjects is doing to help local young people.
“GOODProjects has an authentic connection to this community,” Isler said. “They understand these kids and what they’re up against. That’s why we’re proud to support their work.”
The contrast between the armed guards and the football camps paints a stark picture of the challenges facing District residents.
Dr. Charlayne Hayling-Williams, a clinical psychologist and CEO of Community Wellness Ventures, warned that the impact of this violence goes beyond the immediate danger.
“The trauma these kids experience can shape their entire lives,” she explained. “Programs like those offered by GOODProjects are crucial in providing a counterbalance — a sense of safety, community, and possibility.”
With GOODProjects programming, King Greenleaf Recreation Center buzzes with activity daily, offering youth a positive, safe environment. There, children laugh and play, momentarily free from the worries that plague their neighborhoods. It’s a scene that gives Baxter hope.
“We’re not just trying to keep these kids alive,” he said, watching the young faces light up. “We’re fighting to give them lives worth living.”
For now, GOODProjects continues to walk a tightrope between protection and opportunity.
“GOODProjects is a platform. It’s a place where all we would ever want to be is inspirational,” said the organization’s chief engagement officers.
Outside of the work GOODProjects is doing in the community, Baxter is calling on law enforcement, local government, and the wider community to work to address the root causes of violence.
He said positive change can start with just one step: mentorship.
“My challenge is that everyone gets one mentee,” Baxter told The Informer, adding that the person does not have to be associated with GOODProjects. “You don’t even have to come to Southwest. I know that can be tough at times. But [find] somebody in your life, to wrap your arms around them.”