My Fellow 52nd National Security Forum Attendees:
Although I did not have a chance to personally meet all of you, I wished to
say what a remarkable experience it was to be at the forum and be a guest with
everyone.
Somehow my bio was inadvertently left out of the guest biography book and Col.
Smyth suggested I send along to everyone to update in your book.
Once again it was indeed an honor and a pleasure, and seminar 11 was the
absolute best!
If ever you have an occasion to be in or near Washington, DC, please do not
hesitate to contact me.
Sincerely,
Kenny Barnes
Kenneth E. Barnes, Sr., MS
ROOT (Reaching Out to Others Together), Inc.
2905 11th St, NW
Suite 207
Washington, DC 20001
Tel: (202) 332-ROOT
Fax: (202) 332-8250
Toll Free: (866) 570-ROOT
Email: kennysr@rootinc.org
Web:
www.rootinc.org
Kenneth E. Barnes, Sr., MS
Kenneth Barnes, Sr., was working towards his doctoral degree at Loyola College
in Maryland, the first and the only African/American male as well as being the
oldest student in the program at the time, when tragedy of the worst kind
struck. His son was murdered.
Rather than do nothing, Mr. Barnes found out through neighborhood sources whom
the perpetrator was and turned the information over to the police. It was
later found out that not only was the killer wanted by the police, he had
killed at least two other individuals of which the authorities were aware.
The results were that the murderer, a 17 year old youth, was apprehended two
days after the murder of his son.
Since that time, Mr. Barnes helped to found an organization by the name of
ROOT - Reaching Out to Others Together - www.rootinc.org. It is his firm
contention that only because of the efforts of a community working together to
include the police, the community at large, the media, the business community,
and himself was the killer so swiftly apprehended.
ROOT (Reaching Out to Others Together) Inc. is a non-profit 501c(3)
organization committed to advocacy, education, and intervention on behalf of
individuals and families who have been victimized by homicides. Its mission
is to bring visibility and focus community and organizational resources on
these homicides on behalf of families, while addressing the ROOT causes of the
systemic apathy that fosters a culture of violence in our communities today
In addition to his duties as President of ROOT, Mr. Barnes serves as
Vice-Chair of the Board of Directors of the 14th & U Main Street Initiative;
Public Safety Chair of the 14th & U Business and Arts Coalition (UBAC); Chair,
Board of Advisors Community Council, WAMU Radio 88.5 (American University);
Co-Chapter Leader, Washington DC Chapter, Parents of Murdered Children (POMC);
Chair, Community Outreach, The Martin Luther King, Jr., Memorial Committee;
and, associate member, The National Organization of Black Law Enforcement
Executives (NOBLE).
On December 3, 2001, the City of Washington, DC recognized Mr. Barnes with a
City Council Resolution and a day in his honor. During the Father’s Day
Weekend 2003, Mr. Barnes helped to organize the Father’s Day Remembrance
Ceremony in honor of homicide victims and their families, receiving another
City Council Resolution, a Proclamation from the Mayor, and a Letter of
Commendation from Congresswoman Eleanor Holmes Norton. On October 12, 2003,
Mr. Barnes was honored, along with Lt. Governor of the State of Maryland
Michael Steele and Senator Clarence Blount, on Maryland Heritage Day.
In June of 2004, a City Council Resolution for the Father’s Day Remembrance
Ceremony was presented, along with a proclamation from Congresswoman Eleanor
Holmes Norton to ROOT and Mr. Barnes.
In July of 2004, Mr. Barnes was awarded the prestigious Robert Lamb
Humanitarian Award by the National Organization of Black Law Enforcement
Executives (NOBLE) at their annual convention in Dallas, Texas.
On December 13, 2004, Mr. Barnes was honored by the Youth Law Center and
received the Loren Warboys Unsung Hero award in San Francisco, California.