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The Brampton Guardian
Teenaged mentor is our Safety Hero of the Year
Tuesday November 11 2008
Pam Douglas
As local politicians, police and community leaders grapple with a spike in youth violence, Brampton teenager Jeff Murphy doesn’t have to search far to understand the reasons behind it.
Murphy has experienced those root causes first-hand.

And as for finding solutions— he’s already there.

Once an at-risk youth himself who, at age 11 was selling drugs in his Toronto neighbourhood, Murphy rose above the many challenges life threw at him and is now working to help others do the same right here in Brampton.
As a mentor for at-risk youth working with the Brampton Neighbourhood Resource Centre (BNRC), he listens, he understands, and he cares.
“He delivers a message to teenagers in a way few of us could,” said Larry Zacher, executive director of the Brampton Safe City Association. “When most of us speak about the root causes of youth violence and crime, we speak from third-hand experience or knowledge. Jeff has lived through these situations in his life, and has taken some very hard lessons and turned these into a positive approach to help others.”

That’s why Murphy, just 19, has been chosen by The Brampton Guardian and the Safe City Association as the 2008 Community Safety Hero of the Year.

BNRC Executive Director Dr. Anthony Hutchinson said Murphy started volunteering with the group three years ago and is now working part-time with the SERVE Youth Program and the Youth Educating Against Hate (YEAH) Project.

Through his work developing programs for at-risk youth, he promotes “peace, love and acceptance amongst youth in Brampton,” Hutchinson said.

“Jeff stands against bullying, hate, discrimination and other negative behaviours and activities,” according to Hutchinson, who nominated Murphy for the award.
Zacher said Murphy is an excellent choice.
“I was very impressed with his understanding about young people living in difficult circumstances, and his willingness to reach out to give them advice and support,” Zacher said.
Raised in Parkdale by an alcoholic and drug-addicted mother, and abandoned by his father at a young age, Murphy, his three brothers and two sisters lived in poverty.

At age 12, his older brother, James, introduced him to breakdancing, and it became his passion. The group of dancers he met and hung out with became his family.

The Murphy children ended up in foster care, and Jeff was moved to Brampton five years ago, continuing to practice and learn the dance style he has perfected and now performs publicly.
He also teaches breakdancing to other youth, in a class held once a week through the BNRC, but his students learn just as much about life as they do about art. In between dance instruction, he talks to them, and they often open up to him about their own struggles.

“I tell them to be themselves, don’t follow people, follow your heart,” Murphy said. “And I tell them to respect their parents.”

Murphy said he’s surprised, but happy to be chosen for the award. It will allow him to reach out to more youth and give them a sense of who he is.
“Everything I do is from who I am,” he said.

The award will be presented at a special ceremony tomorrow night, and his family will be there, full of pride.

“I’m absolutely proud of all that he does,” his foster mom, Eleazar Lewinson, said. “He’s a fantastic guy. He has a love in his heart for the community.”