Signal 13 Foundation Video Interview with Project Pneuma

Josh King is a stronger and more confident young man because of his time with Project Pneuma. This Baltimore nonprofit works with boys in 4th-8th grades on improving social and emotional learning skills and helping to forge better relationships with Baltimore City Police. Its ties to the BPD, and the cadets involved in the program, is why Signal 13 is proud to partner with an organization doing important work. Signal 13 CEO Nancy Hinds had the pleasure of interviewing Project Pneuma Founder Damion Cooper and Josh King.

Project Pneuma Founder Shares Story of Counseling the Person Who Shot Him in His Youth – Project Pneuma is a program that brings together Baltimore City Police and kids in the community to foster a positive relationship. The founder, Damion Cooper, shares his personal experience of being shot by a young man and how he forgave and later counseled him in prison after realizing the difficult circumstances he grew up in. Damion’s goal is to guide and support young boys in Baltimore, teaching them to express their emotions and seek help when needed. The program aims to help these boys breathe through their challenges and become better individuals for their community.

Transforming Lives: Project Pneuma’s Impact on Baltimore Youth – In this interview, Joshua King, a student in the Project Pneuma program, shares how the program has transformed his life over the past two years. He explains that before joining, he was reserved and struggled with controlling his emotions. Through Project Pneuma, he’s learned the importance of emotional intelligence and positivity, which has helped him grow as a person. He now feels more confident and aspires to work with young men in the future, inspired by the program’s impact on his life. Project Pneuma founder Damion Cooper reflects on the success of the program over the past 10 years, highlighting the personal transformations of students like Joshua. He shares stories of young men who once resisted the program, only to later embrace it and thrive. Many former students, including some now working for Project Pneuma, have returned to give back, exemplifying the program’s lasting influence. Cooper emphasizes the importance of creating safe spaces for these boys to be themselves, play, and grow without societal pressures. Seeing students like Joshua evolve and manage their emotions marks the true success of the program.

Building Bridges: Project Pneuma and Signal 13 Partnership to Unite Baltimore’s Police and Youth – In this interview, Project Pneuma founder Damion Cooper and student Joshua King discuss the program’s unique approach to bridging the gap between Baltimore’s youth and law enforcement. Signal 13 Foundation’s new partnership with Project Pneuma is designed to foster goodwill between police and the community by building trust and mutual understanding.Damion Cooper reflects on the challenges and success of the program, which he started in 2014 to address tensions between police and Baltimore’s youth. Through Project Pneuma, police officer trainees and young boys from the city’s public schools come together to build relationships, breaking down stereotypes and developing mutual respect. The officers learn about adolescent development, and both groups engage in open conversations that lead to personal growth and connection.Despite facing backlash for trying to unite the police with the community, Cooper shares how the program continued to thrive, even during the 2015 Freddie Gray uprising. The bond between the boys and the officers became a source of protection and support during that challenging time, highlighting the transformative power of consistent, meaningful engagement.

 

Please Lend Us a Hand in 2024

We have a small favor to ask. Thousands of Baltimore Police families have trusted the Signal 13 Foundation to support them during difficult times and when they need assistance paying for college for their kids.

Like other nonprofits, Signal 13’s funding depends on generous donations from individuals, companies and foundations. We can’t do what we do for Baltimore City Police in times of need without your support. Requests for assistance are increasing and we rarely turn a grant or scholarship applicant down.

Signal 13 is celebrating 40 years of helping Baltimore City Police, and the Board’s goal is to do even more to make their lives a little easier during stressful times. We do this because we believe in supporting the brave men and women in the Baltimore Police Department who put their lives on the line everyday to protect us and the city we love.


About Signal 13

Formed in 1983 by Police Commissioner Frank J. Battaglia with help from prominent philanthropists and business owners, the Signal 13 Foundation is an independent, nonprofit 501(c)(3) committed to supporting the men and women of the Baltimore City Police Department with financial hardship grants and scholarships for their families. For more information, go to signal13foundation.org

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