Are We Failing Our Youth? Josh on Violence, Gangs & Real Solutions

In this powerful episode of Corey’s Corner, retired NYPD executive Corey Pegues sits down with Josh Dieudonne for a real and unfiltered conversation on the growing crisis of youth violence in our communities.

Sparked by the tragic loss of two 15-year-olds just days apart one in Queens and another in Eisenhower Park we dive deep into the uncomfortable truths many avoid. Josh brings insight, honesty, and perspective as we unpack what’s really driving young people toward violence, the influence of gangs, and the systemic failures that allow it to continue.

This conversation goes beyond headlines. We challenge accountability across families, communities, and leadership while also examining the role of public responses, from vigils to policy. Most importantly, Josh offers thoughtful, actionable solutions on how we can begin to interrupt the pipeline and protect the next generation.

Transcript

SPEAKER_01 0:00

Wants a cop, let it knock, yeah. I forgot that we just celebrate redemption instead of condemning it. Corey Peghees not talking to bruh. Jagging ass wants a cop.

SPEAKER_04 0:11

Pull up a seat. You're now in Corey's Corner, where right conversations matter. I'm your host, Corey Peghees, and I always keep it right, not real. On this episode of Corey's Corner, I'm sitting down with a true architect of influence. Born in Miami and sharpened in the streets of East Flatbush, Brooklyn, Josh Jerdinay has flipped culture into real political power. By 22, he was already advising mayor as the chair of New York City Youth Advisory Board. And today, he's the founder of Project 2028, pushing a bold agenda around wealth creation and opportunity. From introducing the Young Entrepreneurship Bill to bridging a gap between City Hall and the streets, JD, as he likes to be called, is proving that you don't need a title to shift the system. You need a strategy. This is a conversation about influence, ownership, and rewriting the rules. Let's get into it, Josh. Welcome to Corey's Corner.

SPEAKER_02 1:14

Yes, sir. Appreciate you family.

SPEAKER_04 1:15

I've been waiting for you to come, brother.

SPEAKER_02 1:17

Yes, sir.

SPEAKER_04 1:17

This episode of Corey's Corner is brought to you by Vaikila, premium blend of Vaka and Tequila. So if you're having a party, promotion at work, or just want to have a sip on some of the smoothest fine premium blend liquors in the world, reach out to vaquila.net to find more. Also, CorruptMob MC, not just a motorcycle club. It's a family. From the streets to the clubhouse. Respect the mob. Okay, let's get into it. You were born in Miami, but raised in East Flatbush. How did those two environments shape who you are today?

SPEAKER_02 2:06

Well, I was only about one year old when I moved from Miami. Zo, Zoe. Yes. Zoland, huh? Yeah, Zoland, Zoland. So I didn't really get to experience the Florida culture and Miami culture and be around the Zoes and the Haitians. You know, but my mom worked hard. She got us from Florida to New York City. Everybody knows Brooklyn's is treacherous. You know what I'm saying? And um, like they say, Queens get the money, but I'm pretty sure they be like, you know, Brooklyn be robbing. They be they be into all different types of things, into the violence and into the action. So um, yeah, it was pretty tough, but I would say it would be the Brooklyn environment and the Queens environment that raised me because I went to school out in Queens. You know, so um, because my mom didn't want me to be, you know, in that environment as a young man and get involved in the street culture at a young age. So she wanted me to get away from that and go to school in Queens where it's a little less, you know, violent.

SPEAKER_04 3:09

Because you you said Queens get the money and Queens got all the honey, so it was nice she sent you out here, you know. What was life like growing up in Flatbush? What did you see that most people wouldn't understand unless they lived it?

SPEAKER_02 3:23

Hmm. What did I see? I mean, just how the community banded together, right? Um, like I I wouldn't be afraid to go to my neighbor's house and be like, we're out of peanut butter. Right. Can I get some? You know, and they will give it.

SPEAKER_06 3:42

Yeah.

SPEAKER_02 3:43

And just being that community where we all know each other um growing up, but it's not like that now. But growing up, it was like the whole community was together. And um even though that was tough, even though that things were going down in the community, my community always had each other's back.

SPEAKER_04 4:00

Yeah. Fun fact I'm the first black commanding officer in the history of the New York City Police Department since 1865 to run East Flatbush, Brooklyn, the 6'7 Precinct.

SPEAKER_07 4:12

Yeah.

SPEAKER_04 4:13

So I know that the 6'7 Precinct is all Caribbean. Haitian, it's the second biggest Haitian community in the country. You got Miami, and then you have East Flatbush, and they have Antiguans, Barbadans, uh, Indy, St. Lucians, Jamaicans. They're all there. What amazed me about East Flatbush, Brooklyn, when I went there and took over, there was no fucking projects. I did not believe that it was no project. I thought Flatbush Gardens was a project. It wasn't a project. It was like low-income housing. And East Flatbush 6'7 precinct part was the second most violent precinct in the city of New York. We always led the city with gun arrests, was top three, top four in crime. You know, it would be 6'7573. And it was so that's like East New York, Brownsville, and East Flatbush. You had a high probability of getting robbed, raped, shot, murdered. But when you're riding around the community, it was like really nice. But at nighttime, it was just crazy. But for the Haitian community, I can honestly say it wasn't a lot of the Haitians committing the crimes. Because obviously I had to chart everything. It wasn't a lot of the, it was a few of the Haitians committing the crimes, but it was all the other Caribbean, uh, mostly Jamaicans committing the crimes in each flatbush. It amazed me. Was there a specific moment growing up where you realized that you wanted more than you was around?

SPEAKER_02 5:49

Oh yeah, most definitely. I remember just being on a block one day, chilling with my friends. And um, you know, we used to play a b basketball a lot. So we would bring out the hoop, shoot hoops and everything like that. And then one day, you know, a car came down the block and just started shooting. Just started shooting, and it's just like because I wasn't really fully aware of the people I was playing basketball with.

SPEAKER_06 6:17

Right.

SPEAKER_02 6:17

You know what I'm saying? And so I would like to play basketball with older adults, you know what I'm saying? Because from my perspective, if I play against older guys, I would get better at a young age. You know what I'm saying?

SPEAKER_06 6:29

Yeah.

SPEAKER_02 6:30

And so um just at that moment, you know, just getting shot at and um just being in an area where, you know, you could possibly die was like a real wake-up call to me that like I gotta get away from all this.

SPEAKER_06 6:48

Right.

SPEAKER_02 6:48

Right. And, you know, everybody like every day, every other day, they would call me, like, yo, why you not coming outside? Where you at? I'm not coming out there. I'm not coming out there because it's a whole bunch of violence. Y'all getting shot at. I don't got time for that. You know what I'm saying? I got a life to live, I got things to accomplish.

SPEAKER_04 7:06

Right. So, who were your earlier influences? Was it street figures, political figures, family that shaped your mindset?

SPEAKER_02 7:14

Oh, it was definitely street figures, you know what I'm saying? OGs that were up the block for me, you know what I'm saying? Uh, that always looked looked out for me. Um, and even though they was doing the things that they was doing, um, they was like, yo, you different. That path that everybody else is going down, right? Don't go down that path. Make sure you stay in the gyms, continue working out.

SPEAKER_06 7:37

Right.

SPEAKER_02 7:37

Continue, I see you reading, because you you sounding more, you know what I'm saying, articulate. Uh-huh. Keep doing that.

SPEAKER_06 7:43

Yeah.

SPEAKER_02 7:44

You know what I'm saying? But I kind of went down like that same path in a way that they told me not to go down.

SPEAKER_06 7:50

Right.

SPEAKER_02 7:51

But I caught myself. But I don't even want to say I caught myself. I would say God didn't let me drown.

SPEAKER_06 7:57

Right, right.

SPEAKER_02 7:58

You know what I'm saying? So it was a lot of street figures. I don't even know what politics was.

SPEAKER_06 8:02

Right.

SPEAKER_02 8:02

You know what I'm saying? Because they weren't in our communities like that.

SPEAKER_06 8:06

Right.

SPEAKER_02 8:06

Like they wouldn't, I wouldn't say like they were really making themselves present. So the streets was really the people that I looked up to and giving me advice on certain things on how to move. And even when that situation was getting shot at, you know, those guys saw my face.

SPEAKER_06 8:26

Right.

SPEAKER_02 8:26

And so from there, you know, certain people just started telling me, yo, you gotta move like this. You gotta two blocks down, you really gotta post know like who's down that block. You know what I'm saying? Yeah. It's kind of like you gotta have superhuman powers and kind of have be be on that like heightened sense and always be aware of your surroundings no matter what from far away.

SPEAKER_04 8:46

Right. So you became a mayor advisor, chair of New York City Youth Advisory Board at the tender age of just 22, which is not normal. How did that opportunity come your way?

SPEAKER_02 8:58

I was doing security at Nostrum at Columbus Circle, right, in the city. And so I was um watching the cameras, right? And making sure everything's going good in the store, nobody's stealing. Because I was one of those guys that was like running down um undercover, as you would say, running down to stop the guys that's stealing all the merch and everything like that. And so um the mayor walks in.

SPEAKER_04 9:22

And who's the mayor at this time?

SPEAKER_02 9:24

Eric Adams.

SPEAKER_04 9:25

Eric Adams.

SPEAKER_02 9:26

So he walks in the store, I see him on a camera, and I'm like, oh, it's the mayor that walked in. Okay, cool. And you know, I'm just I just brush it off. And then a quote came into my mind discipline weighs ounces, and regret weighs tons. So, you know what? I said to myself, at that very moment that guy dropped that quote in my head, I said, I'm not gonna regret not meeting him. So as I was walking up to him, everybody was taking photos, pictures, and you know, me coming from where I am coming from, I'm not really into all that stuff. You know what I'm saying? So I just walked up to him and I said, I just want to introduce myself. And from that very moment, just a minute, literally, he said, You seem like a well put together young man. Let's exchange numbers. And from there, we exchanged numbers, and he said, I want you to come into government and start to lead. And that's where we formed the chair of the New York City's youth advisory board, and I started to play out that role.

SPEAKER_04 10:31

Nice, that's beautiful. That's so for the audience, don't ever blow your opportunity. When opportunity is in front of you, you gotta grab it by the horns because that quote you said is heavy. What did you see inside City Hall that changed how your view of power and politics was?

SPEAKER_02 10:51

The view inside City Hall, I would say that it was just game-changing, right? Because all I knew was the block.

SPEAKER_06 11:01

Right, right.

SPEAKER_02 11:02

I get on a train and I ride past City Hall all the time. You know, and you hear it, you hear them make the announcement, but you have no idea what it is.

SPEAKER_06 11:12

Right.

SPEAKER_02 11:13

Because this is not what was put on the television or on the YouTube, not in front of me, so I wasn't aware of it. And so when I got inside City Hall, I was like, whoa, there's another life for me. You know what I'm saying? Like, this is so crazy because I literally got the chance to help out youth young adults in my neighborhood and in my network, and actually bring them to Gracie Mansion and actually have a meeting with the mayor, the chancellor, and um the former DYCD commissioner at the time, right? And really talk about the resources that the inner city youth wasn't getting, right? Because, like I said, this was not put in front of them.

SPEAKER_06 11:57

Right.

SPEAKER_02 11:58

So they're not aware of it. And so they could have gone any other route, you know what I'm saying? Posted an announcement saying we're looking for youth and young adults to form an advisory. But by meeting me, they saw the inner city youth in me and said, Let me go down this path. And from there, I realized that there was so much that our community was missing out on, and realizing that I have to find creative ways to get the message out and make sure that we're seizing all of these resources that we're missing out of.

SPEAKER_04 12:29

Nice. So a lot of people get lost in this system. How did you maintain your identity? Because you was from the streets of each flat bush while navigating those spaces.

SPEAKER_02 12:41

I'm just making sure I keep it right, not real. Oh, oh, I wish you had a ballot.

SPEAKER_04 12:47

We need a we need a cow horn ballot.

SPEAKER_06 12:50

Ding, ding, ding, ding, ding.

SPEAKER_02 12:52

I love it. Yes, sir. Yes, sir. Um, because it's always about doing the right thing. Right. You know, um, and you know, um my roots is in religion, you know, Christian. And so uh reading the Bible was it wasn't about what I thought was was real or about being gangster. It was about what is right and what is wrong.

SPEAKER_06 13:15

Right.

SPEAKER_02 13:16

So staying true to, you know, the Bible's word and making sure that I stay focused on giving my community the resources that they need and not focusing on the, I would say, the the advantages that people take, um, you know, I would say, abuse. You know what I'm saying? Yeah. And making sure I do the right thing.

SPEAKER_04 13:41

That's good. You're one of the few people from the Eric Adams administration that's sitting here right now, and you don't have no indictments on your head. Thank God for that, right? You've mastered turning cultural influence into legislative power. Break that down for us.

SPEAKER_02 13:59

Well, there were a lot of things that was missing in city government, and that was culture, right? And the culture of the young people specifically, right? The culture that went viral on Instagram and all social media platforms. Right? And so I've noticed that, you know, the people that are aware of, you know, city government, it's like a revolving door. Um the a new mayor comes in, he meets the same people. Right. You know what I'm saying? It's nothing new, it's the same thing. It's just the same thing.

SPEAKER_04 14:39

Right.

SPEAKER_02 14:40

And so I'm like, this is this is very confusing because it's like, how are we reaching out to other people and more people to get them involved?

SPEAKER_06 14:51

Right.

SPEAKER_02 14:51

Right. So I started um thinking on creative ways, right? Uh, I did this this event called We Trending, right? I brought about, I would say, 50 young influencers within my network that has millions of followers on Instagram and YouTube and whatever platform you could think of to come to an event that we did with the um DYCD and NYC service to make sure that we use their viralness, right? And I want you guys to understand that these are my friends, right? Right. So I'm putting in my friends in position and also making sure that it's mutually beneficial.

SPEAKER_06 15:30

Exactly.

SPEAKER_02 15:30

Right? That I don't just try to use anybody because that's not who I am as a person. Right, right. I want to make sure you get something out of it. Right. So they would come, they would take advantage of the resources and then also share the resources and create viral videos, right? And from that one event that we did, we garnered about um, I would say over a million views for um the agencies because they was going around to the different agency tables about and making videos on the resources, different resources that they had.

SPEAKER_04 16:01

Wow. Yeah, that's dope. Why do artists and public figures trust you with their moves behind the scenes?

SPEAKER_02 16:09

Well, I would say it's all about keeping it right. Um, they knew that I'm an authentic person.

SPEAKER_06 16:18

Right.

SPEAKER_02 16:18

Right. And so it was kind of like easy to trust me, to trust and to know that, you know, they probably haven't heard of me, right? But when we had that conversation, like I'm from Flatbush.

SPEAKER_06 16:32

Right.

SPEAKER_02 16:32

You know what I'm saying? I didn't grow up in politics.

SPEAKER_06 16:34

Right.

SPEAKER_02 16:35

I didn't grow up around um City Hall. I have no idea about it. But I'm in this position now and we could work together, yeah, and we can make something mutually beneficial for everybody and for the people that we're serving specifically. Right. So, so I would say that another thing is that they really didn't understand how to make an impact. See, most artists will go when it's Thanksgiving time and give out turkeys. Right, right. You know, like everybody got it. How many times have we seen that? And so I'm like, yo, we gotta make a difference. We have to start making programs. See, the artists, the kids love the artists, right? Right? So you need to create a program that keeps kids in school. So that was my perspective. And so that's how I started to blend the culture with, you know, the civics and legislation and everything like that. We'll get down more into it.

SPEAKER_04 17:31

Okay. You introduced the young entrepreneurship bill. What made you say, I'm not waiting, I'm stepping into this space right now?

SPEAKER_02 17:41

I think it's all about permission, right? And coming from Flatbush, it's like we don't wait for permission.

SPEAKER_06 17:50

No, you don't.

SPEAKER_02 17:51

You know, we don't wait for permission. So it was it was like I had the green light to do the things that I wanted to do, but also check in with the right people that understand government, right, to the T and make sure that everything is in a straight line. With that being said, these commissioners, these um individuals that held powerful positions in City Hall, they had a lot a lot of things going on. So I make sure I check in with their staff, um, people right under them, and making sure everything is straight. And they'd be like, oh, we gotta wait for you know this person on that. We gotta wait for uh, you know, to get the the the this person's approval, right? Right. And which I understood is the right thing to do, right? But if I'm introducing legislation, this is my idea, right? Right, that means that I can take my idea and go somewhere else. If you guys are taking too long, uh huh, then I can go a different route.

SPEAKER_04 18:52

That actually leads into the next question. What resistance did you face from political establishment when you brought that bill forward?

SPEAKER_02 19:00

They didn't really buy into it, probably because You was a new 22-year-old kid. Exactly. Trying to make power moves. Exactly. Trying to make power moves, and it was just too much of a big goal, right? And like you said, as a 22-year-old, right? Yo, he's trying to do this.

SPEAKER_06 19:21

Right.

SPEAKER_02 19:22

Let's, let's, let's slow down, bro. Slowly, slow your horses, you know what I'm saying? So from there, I was like, let me go a different route. Because I was doing things on a citywide level, but I didn't really get involved with the you know, local politicians, the council members, the assembly members. So I start I decided to go that route. And, you know, like they always say, or even in the Bible, like if one door closes, there's always multiple doors that you can go through.

SPEAKER_06 19:52

Right.

SPEAKER_02 19:53

I had that in my mind, right? That nobody's bigger than God. And if God is putting this in my heart to say, go out and make sure this bill gets introduced, right? Then I said, I'm on that mission and I'm gonna do it. And so we introduced the bill with Councilmember Kevin Riley, right? The bill is for youth and young adults from 18 to 30, helping them understand the procurement system. A lot of people don't learn the procurement system and how government contracts work until they get older. And so my mission is to help youth and young adults understand it at a young age so they're already ahead of the curve, right? And you can't become a billionaire or a millionaire without understanding government contracts and understanding the flow of the um government money.

SPEAKER_06 20:42

Right.

SPEAKER_02 20:43

Right? You can't become Elon Musk or Jeff Bezos without understanding government subsidy. By starting this program at the age of 18, and I'm trying to get it into high schools as well, they'll have that understanding. And so they'll now be on a better route. Right. Understand that they can make money right there in their community.

SPEAKER_04 21:04

I love it. This is great. So, JD, we got this segment in the show called the Spitfly Ram. Well, I'm asking you 10 rapid fire questions. You're gonna ask, answer them either one word, yes, no. Try not to expand too much. It's a fun game. You ready? Okay, Brooklyn or Miami? Brooklyn. Power or influence?

unknown 21:33

Influence.

SPEAKER_04 21:34

Artist or politician? Politician. Closed door meetings or public platforms?

SPEAKER_02 21:40

Public platforms.

SPEAKER_04 21:42

Wealth or legacy? Legacy. One word to describe City Hall. Hope. Most overrated thing in politics.

SPEAKER_02 21:51

Thinking politicians are like they're not normal people.

SPEAKER_04 21:56

Most underrated move in business.

SPEAKER_02 21:58

Making sure. That the business move is mutually beneficial.

SPEAKER_04 22:05

If you could change one law tomorrow, what would it be?

SPEAKER_02 22:09

What I'm doing right now, I should say the state started out, but M B E that's on a federal level. M B E is on the federal level. MWBE is on the state level. And what I'm trying to do right now, M Y B E for the state from New York.

SPEAKER_04 22:25

Tell them what those acronyms stand for. Minority Youth Business Enterprise. In one word, what is JD building?

SPEAKER_02 22:33

Ownership.

SPEAKER_04 22:34

Yay! Congratulations. Thank you for participating in the Spitfire round. That was nice. That wasn't bad, right? Before we move forward, let me take you somewhere for a second. Everything we talk about on this show, power, accountability, loyalty, redemption, it's not just a conversation for me. I've lived it, I've earned it, I've survived it. I've seen both sides of the system. I've walked the streets, I've worn the badge, I've carried the weight of decisions that change people's lives. That's why I wrote Once a Cop. It's not just a book. It's the raw, unfiltered truth about the journey from the corners of the streets of Queens, New York to the high glass hallways of New York City police headquarters, one police plaza. The pressure, the politics, the purpose, the course, and a documentary, a cops and robbers story, pulls the curtain back even further. No headlines, no sound bites, just the human story behind a uniform. Because behind every badge is a man behind every rank is a story, and behind every story is a choice. Add word from our sponsors.

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SPEAKER_01 24:15

I'm Rob Carnegie Jr.

SPEAKER_04 24:16

Check out Quarry's Corner on YouTube, Spotify, and Apple Podcasts. Let's get to some more serious stuff. In the span of just two days, we lost two 15-year-olds. One being Jaden Pierre in Queens, New York, just a mile away from where we are right now, and another still unnamed 15-year-old in Long Island at Eisenhower Park, which is a mile and a half from where I live. What does this say about how normalized youth violence has become in our communities?

SPEAKER_02 24:46

It's become overwhelming.

SPEAKER_04 24:49

To say the least.

SPEAKER_02 24:50

Yeah. Because to see that young brother lose his life in front of about 30 other young people, and he's getting beat on. And nobody thinks to call the police.

SPEAKER_04 25:05

Fuck the police. They didn't even think to help him.

SPEAKER_02 25:08

Yeah. The only reason why I think that they didn't think to help him because they knew there was some type of danger that they could have gotten into. You know, some gunplay that they could have got into. And so that's why I say for them the first the first thing that they should have done was called the police. Right?

SPEAKER_04 25:25

And you what you don't know, because you're from Flatbush, where he got killed three blocks away from the precinct. Like literally, he got killed like on a corner of Merrick in Baisley, and the precinct is three blocks away.

SPEAKER_02 25:41

Sad. So this was out of school when he was coming out of school.

SPEAKER_04 25:45

The school had just ended. So where is school safety? It wasn't close to the school. It's a few blocks away. So school safety have their own little zone. They don't really go outside of the school area. That's their that's their area, the school area. But you know, we have violence interruptors out there. We have community-based organizations. We have a lot of listen and all, be all, and let me cut the chase. You know, I'm a retired executive in the New York City Police Department. I have a few friends. I have a few friends in high places.

SPEAKER_07 26:17

Yeah.

SPEAKER_04 26:17

So I did a little research on this. This was a gang-related shooting. It wasn't about no water balloons. Wasn't about a rave where kids was going to the park. This was a gang-related shooting. Definitely. It was something that stemmed from early in school without, you know, getting into it and jeopardizing the case. This was a gang-related shooting. As well as the 15-year-old in Eisenhower Park was a gang-related shooting. It was a barbecue, gangs, and they invited the kids. So we we have a serious issue with gangs. Something that I've never seen. You know, again, being a commander, Flatbush, you might not want to hear this, but Flatbush had the most gangs in New York City when I was a commander. I'm pretty sure they probably still up there. You know, GS9, Bobby Schmerder, and all of them was on my wall. I was, I was all up in those guys every day, the BMWs. I can remember the names of these, all of those crews. So gangs are an issue. I'm more pivoted on families holding parents accountable now. We'll speak about that a little bit. So both of these tragedies happen in parks, which are supposed to be safety zones, right? Where's the real breakdown you think? Family, community, policy, or leadership? And who should be held accountable?

SPEAKER_02 27:41

I think it's family, and then I want to also include that the police have should have done something as well, right? Because growing up in Queens, what they've done was they know the areas that the youth and young adults go to after school, right? So whenever I went to like this Burger King when I was in middle school, I went to the Burger King after school. It was a cop car always outside of that Burger King because they knew that this is where youth and young adults were gonna be together and do crazy things, you know, all the energy we got. And so not only the police, but the violence interrupters should have been out there, and also um the family members should have been calling, you know, their children, making sure, are you in an after-school program right now? Or what are you doing? Are you way home? Or what are you doing? You know what I'm saying?

SPEAKER_04 28:36

Let me touch on some of those subjects you said. So, one, the family calling the kid, supposedly, allegedly, the kid called and said, Can he go to the park to play basketball? But there was a balloon fight. This is what they're saying. All right. As far as the police are concerned, believe it or not, cops are posted at that park. Wow. And from my understanding, there was a very, very, very short gap where a cop left and another one was coming a few minutes later, and they just didn't get there in time. So the cops know about that park. They know about people congregating in park, they know the hot spots, especially with all the raving now that cops are. I mean, you know, kids are going to parks and doing all this crazy stuff. And I'm not defending the police, I'm just telling you. But when you really look at criminal records of these kids that shooting, um these kids are in gangs. So I could use my son, he's 18, he just turned 18. I could use him for an example. I know he's not in no gang. I know for sure he ain't in no gang. Uh I know I go up to him at any time, say, give me your cell phone. Unlock it right now. I'm going through his phone. I pay the bill, I'm going through the phone. I'm going through his dresser drawers, I'm going to his pockets. He already, no, we ain't playing. I'll take he go to a party. I took him to a party last summer. There was a lot of kids there, and it didn't sit well in my heart. And I was like, I can't leave him here. And it was another parent with their kid. And we looked at each other and I was like, I'm security tonight. So we kind of just stood there. This is real parent shit. I won't have to go into all this, but that's the type of parent. You gotta be on these kids. Yeah. And from what I understand, these kids got criminal backgrounds and everything. You know, everybody's crying, and you know, yeah, it was a very tragic situation. But at what point, I'm not blaming. We can't, the police, the gang members, like parents gotta take hold of their children. Like, it is what it is. Like, you are the first line of defense. If you're not doing it, nobody else is gonna raise your kids but you. Here we got, think about this. Think about let's talk about the Pierre incident. Think about this. Ruined six lives. He's dead. The four that was beating him, they getting locked up for murder. That's a that's a super fact. They getting locked up for murder. That's four. And there's one on the lamb, right? That's five. That's six kids, six young black kids' lives ruined. One loss and five never gonna be the same. And I don't even know if they can lock other people up, but I could promise you those five, those are murder charges. And you know, so it's sad.

SPEAKER_02 31:31

We can have so many meanings. I think I think that it is it takes multiple approaches. Yes, it's definitely it. So it's it's not me just saying that because I also grew up and knew a lot of uh detectives. Like my mom worked in the district attorney's office. Yeah, so I knew a lot of detectives, inspectors, you know, commanders, and things of that nature. I have a whole bunch of respect for police. But I think it takes everybody.

SPEAKER_04 31:59

It's a village, like they say, it takes a village to raise a child, but with all the violence that I'm seeing, my mindset, Corey Pegis, this is me. I'm putting it at the lap and the feet of the parents. Because there's no way, like I just told you about my 18-year-old son. There's no way in the world that my 18-year-old son is gonna have two or three robberies in his past, assaults, and he living at my house. He gotta get the fuck out. He getting out. Maybe the first robbery I might let his mother put a titty in his mouth. Well, after that, nah, you do it again. You gotta go. You know, we can't play these games with these kids. These kids are out of 15.

SPEAKER_05 32:42

Yeah.

SPEAKER_04 32:43

We ain't even talking about 22, 23, 24-year-olds. These are these are young kids. Gun violence continues to take the lives of inner city youth at an alarming rate. What do you believe are the root causes driving young people toward guns and where are we getting it wrong as a society? Because we know it's a societal issue.

SPEAKER_02 33:06

Yeah. Um, I think it's the examples that we look up to. Right. Um and we first go to music.

SPEAKER_06 33:16

Yeah.

SPEAKER_02 33:16

Yeah. I mean, you know, you said a whole bunch of GS9. Yeah. Uh, who's out, drill, drill, you know, a lot of these guys that was rapping, you know, um, that are kind of taking a turn now once they realize a lot of the things that they was rapping about, you know, was the life that they lived, but it wasn't the things that they want to push on a youth, but realizing that they did push it on a youth in a way. Just understanding the drill music and and making sure your child is listening to something positive, man. Because if that plays in your mind 24-7, that's all you're watching on the computer on your phone, that's what you're eventually gonna be.

SPEAKER_04 33:52

Well, but I got a surprise for you. My little son that's 18 years old, there's a silver spoon in his mouth, house, two cars, white picket fence. All he listened to is drill music. And I'm like, so for me, I'm a hip-hop baby, you know. I'm grew up run DMC L L L Cool J. That's my man, you know. And I remember my parents like, what the hell are you listening to? You know, so as a parent, I'm like, I know he ain't into drill. I know for sure, but this is what he likes. It's I don't like it, but if your son is listening or daughter is listening to this stuff and living it out, that's different. He's listening to drill, but he's he's drinking caramel frat base with two slices, you know, extra sugar. So, you know, influential.

SPEAKER_02 34:49

Very influential, yes. But he had a great father figure in his life.

SPEAKER_04 34:55

That's another you know what I'm saying? That's another issue.

SPEAKER_02 34:58

So most of the the young men that's growing up, we don't got fathers. I didn't have a father growing up.

SPEAKER_04 35:04

I didn't have one neither. That's why I'm trying to be the best I can be with mine.

SPEAKER_02 35:08

I fully support fathers trying to be in their children's lives because it's it's so crucial at a young age that we need that firm structure that's gonna tell us what it is. Like you said, you on top of it. You don't play no games. And so even though your child was listening to drill music, you know I'm my dad's gonna whoop my ass if I ever try to go down that route.

SPEAKER_04 35:30

That's right.

SPEAKER_02 35:30

I think for me, not having a father in my life, I had to, um, well, not even I had to. My mom saw I needed to be around some positive male figures, right? And so that's why she made me like, you know, come around um certain inspectors and and um detectives. And, you know, they would just say, you know, little things here and there because same thing. I was on like listening to the drill music, and I think the the streets is all I know. You know what I'm saying? It's about being real, not right. Uh-huh. You know what I'm saying? So um, but then understanding that I can't let that take over me, right? And knowing where when it's a limit and not living it out.

SPEAKER_04 36:12

Exactly. Definitely not. From your perspective, what are real actionable solutions, whether police, community-based, or cultural, that can actually reduce gun violence amongst our city youth?

SPEAKER_02 36:28

I would say the programs, right? The programs that um they're putting in these schools, they have to be attractive for youth and young adults. They have to have an incentive for them to stay after school and want to be in these programs, whether it be um an artist program or whether that be um Creative writing. Creative writing. But I would say it you need to add that influencer piece, right? Because that's all the kids watch nowadays. That's it. Right? So you have to find a way to blend that culture of influence and um the artists into these schools and get them in there because that's what the kids are watching. That's the kids want to be around. So when they're in that controlled environment, now it's easier to keep them away from that trouble. You know what I'm saying? And out the streets and out out of out of those danger zones. And so I think that's what we need more of, right? And so that's why, you know, that was my focus from the jump. You know, and that's why we did, um, I believe we went um, we went up in 80% in getting youth young adults um involved in after school programs and city services. Right. When I was involved as the New York City's uh youth advisory board chair.

SPEAKER_04 37:42

I love that. Yeah, something you just said was very important. I like that. And I hope you politicians are listening, you gotta listen to the young people, young adults. You said integrating influences into the kids, because you know that they they online all day. If a kid got 50,000 followers or 3 million, they'd love the influences, integrating them into the school system, setting them up at the schools, that's a great idea. Now you started Project 2028, not Project 2025, which Mr. Orange started, okay? Project 2028. Let's start putting that out. Project 2028 is about wealth creation. What's the real goal behind this movement?

SPEAKER_02 38:26

Well, the real goal behind this movement is to create ownership at a young age. See, um billionaires' children and millionaires' children, they start them out young.

SPEAKER_06 38:38

Yeah.

SPEAKER_02 38:38

Put an LLC in their name at a young age and teach them how to make money, right? And teach them to invest in the stock market. Take that money that they build from that business and invest it in the stock market. Ownership, right? That's what Project 2028 is about. And I named it purposely Project 2028 because we had Project 20, 2025. Right. 2025. I love it. And so to flip that on its head, right? Because a lot of the things that they were pushing in with Project 2025 were a lot of distractions. Was it to get a reaction out of people, right? And what I'm pushing now is straight up, yo, I want to increase the contracts for youth and young adults in the city, in the state, and federal levels.

SPEAKER_06 39:32

Right.

SPEAKER_02 39:33

Right. To make sure youth and young adults are involved and getting those contracts in their communities and at the schools that they go to. Right. Because I want to give you this example. I believe in 2003, there was a company, I don't want to say the company, right? They owned most of the vending machines in the Department of Education facilities and schools. Right. And I think they own around 90% of them. So if a youth or a young adult had an idea to start his own vending machine company, he couldn't go to the Department of Education and be like, yo, can I put this vending machine up? Because that contract was held by Snapple.

SPEAKER_06 40:18

Right.

SPEAKER_02 40:19

Right. And tell me why they would choose a young person's business over a corporation that they've been doing this for decades.

SPEAKER_06 40:29

Right.

SPEAKER_02 40:29

They wouldn't go with the younger person's business.

SPEAKER_06 40:32

Right.

SPEAKER_02 40:33

And so that's the reality that we're in right now. Is that New York City has a budget of billions of dollars. Billions. And even though they're yelling tax the rich, tax the rich, I think there needs to be um a redirection of funds because the money's there. And so when youth and young adults are put on that frequency of, I need to start a business, right? Because new, because New York City is expensive as hell already. Right. So even if you freeze the rents, the rent is already high.

SPEAKER_04 41:10

They still can't afford it.

SPEAKER_02 41:11

They still can't afford it. Right. So we need an initiative, which is Project 2028, to help youth and young adults take back ownership, understand cultural influence, right? Because that's the most important things youth and young adults have. Right. And understanding that we need to help them build wealth right where they are. So I'm pretty sure you had a nine to five when you were young, right?

SPEAKER_04 41:40

And I just sold drugs. I sold crack. I sold cocaine. I sold mescaline tab. I carry guns. I never had a job. I had two jobs in my life. I went to the United States Army, and I was a cop. Well, my teenage years, I was a mess. I was a beast. But it was different. But that was a nine to five, basically. It actually was. We had three different tours. We worked eight in the morning to four in the afternoon, four to midnight, and midnight to eight in the morning. But uh I survived it, and I'm not glorifying that, and I don't want no other kids to have to go through what I went through. And that's why I try to make my kids' lives a lot easier so they don't have to do the bullshit that I did. Now, why is ownership the message you're pushing to the next generation instead of just access?

SPEAKER_02 42:28

Because they've been preaching, giving youth and young adults a seat at the table. And a seat at the table doesn't mean that you're gonna get ownership.

SPEAKER_06 42:41

Right.

unknown 42:41

Right?

SPEAKER_02 42:41

It's just a seat at the table. You're just voicing your opinion. Right? You're voicing what matters to you. But then they go back and they say, What matters to us? And I'm talking about the politicians.

SPEAKER_06 42:54

Right, right, right.

SPEAKER_02 42:55

What matters to us? You know what I'm saying? Um for the most part, they're gonna be like, what matters to us that's gonna help us get votes.

SPEAKER_06 43:04

Right.

SPEAKER_02 43:05

So a youth or a young adult would go and say, Yo, we're struggling. I have no place to live. 8,000, right? Pix11 put this out. 8,000 college students were homeless or in shelters.

SPEAKER_06 43:21

Wow.

SPEAKER_02 43:22

New York City is one of the highest, has one of the highest poverty rates in the country, right? And so yes, so to understand that youth young adults are struggling and to say, how are they making it? Right? And what are the answers that we have for them to actually thrive and not survive? Because youth young adults have nine to fives, but they understand they can't make it with a nine to five. So they gotta go start a business, they gotta s become an influencer. Start up set up an LLC, gotta go do nails, or gotta do hair, gotta do um vending machines, gotta do uh landscape, whatever that they can do in their communities. They gotta hustle.

SPEAKER_04 44:15

Speaking of that, you've helped women in the beauty industry tap into government contracting. What why was that a focus for you?

SPEAKER_02 44:23

It's a focus for me because I understand where youth and young adults' attention is, right? Especially young women.

SPEAKER_06 44:29

Right.

SPEAKER_02 44:30

Right. And making sure that we protect our young women and making sure they have an outlet, right, to get their um what they're going through out. And understanding that hairstylists, right, they are also mentors and also therapists in a way. Absolutely. Because when you go, even barbers. You go your barber, I talk, I talk about certain things, you know, your barber is almost somebody that you trust, and you can you can tell them things. You know, and the same thing for women. And so understanding that we need to start, you know, these beauty programs and helping hairstylists, right, get contracts and start helping these young girls out on the right path and leading them in the right direction of doing hairs, nails, and the beauty industry, not just hairs and hair and nails.

SPEAKER_04 45:22

And that's a billion-dollar industry, multi-billion.

SPEAKER_02 45:25

It's a billion-dollar industry. You see what Rihanna's doing.

SPEAKER_04 45:27

Yeah.

SPEAKER_02 45:27

You know what I'm saying? You see what um Kim Kardashian is doing.

SPEAKER_04 45:31

Cardi B just started a line.

SPEAKER_02 45:32

Exactly. Yeah. And so I understand where youth and young adults' attention is. And so attention is like the new currency right now. So when you understand their attention, that's where you can get them out of those bad environments and get them into the right environments and get them to the next steps of their lives.

SPEAKER_04 45:55

When it's all said and done, what do you want JD's name to represent in politics and culture?

SPEAKER_02 46:03

Man, these are these are the questions that you gotta think of. Uh, I would say when it's all said and done, uh, I want to be um that person to show my community that we can work together. Show youth and young adults that you don't gotta get money illegally. Right. Right? You and your your your bros could partner together and start a business because Joshua created an MYBE bill and he passed it. And so we don't gotta go out on the streets and sell weed, sell crack, whatever we gotta sell. We can just go straight up to a school or the department of education and say, I want to start this business or I have a business. Can I get a contract?

SPEAKER_06 46:57

Right.

SPEAKER_02 46:57

Here's my game plan and make money right in their communities.

SPEAKER_04 47:02

Oh man, that's beautiful. Before that, before we wrap, is there anything you like to share that we haven't talked about?

SPEAKER_02 47:10

Um I would say just understanding that this is a legacy bill, right? Because it's gonna change so much youth and young adults' lives. And it's gonna be a movement of young entrepreneurs, right, that bands together, not just in New York City, but but throughout the country.

SPEAKER_06 47:34

Right.

SPEAKER_02 47:34

Because there are millions of youth and young adults that are struggling. Trump knows it. He's saying the word affordability now. They understand that they have to address the issue. Because if they don't address the issue, there will be social unrest.

SPEAKER_06 47:49

Right.

SPEAKER_02 47:50

Right? And so I believe pouring into this program, MYBE, is the answer to how we make New York City and the country affordable for youth and young adults and um a multitude of people.

SPEAKER_04 48:07

Let the people know where they could find you. You need a social media handle. Just look in the camera.

SPEAKER_02 48:12

Yeah. So you guys can find me at Josh D N Y C on YouTube, Instagram, TikTok. That's where you can find me.

SPEAKER_04 48:20

Okay, Josh, I appreciate you coming through and pulling up a seat to Corey's corner. Your story's powerful because it's right. You didn't just talk about change, you stepped into rooms and you made it happen. From flatbush to city hall, from culture to legislation, you're showing people that influence currency. I like that influences currency, and ownership is the goal. We're definitely going to be watching, see what you do next. Thank you again for pulling up to Corey's Corner. And to our listeners, stay locked in. We got more powerful conversations on the way. Brother, this was a great conversation, man. Appreciate you. To our listeners, if you found value in today's episode, make sure you follow, subscribe, and support. This has been another episode of Corey's Corner. And remember, keep pushing, keep grinding. It's not about where you start, it's always where you finish. I'm Corey Begiz, and I always keep it right, not real. Peace. Special thanks to our executive producer, our engineers, and much respect to corrupt mob for making Corey's Corner possible.

SPEAKER_01 49:31

I put my thing with the celebration dead instead of condemning it.