One Year After His Death, DaeDaeWorld Weekend Honors Slain Teen

One year after 14-year-old Dajae Coleman was shot and killed, his mother, Tiffany Rice, is bringing the community together for a weekend of events to honor his memory and empower other young people.

Coleman was just entering his freshman year as an honor student at Evanston Township High School when he was shot and killed in the 1500 block of Church Street, while walking home from a party with friends. Police say that Coleman’s killer shot at him in a case of mistaken identity, in “a retaliatory act upon an innocent group of teens.” 

Inspired by the outpouring of support following Dajae’s death—and particularly the huge number of fellow teenagers who attended his funeral—Rice started the Dajae Coleman Foundation this winter. She told Patch earlier this year that she hopes the nonprofit will inspire other young kids to emulate Dajae’s strengths, including his dedication to his studies, his commitment to basketball and his friendly personality.

“I’ve always planned, after he was murdered, to continue his legacy,” she said. “I’m really about producing change in the Evanston community.” 

DaeDaeWorld Weekend kicks off with a a family fun night at the Fleetwood-Jourdain Community Center, 1655 Foster St., from 7:30 to midnight, with free food, games, skating, an open mic and DJ.

On Saturday, there will be several basketball skills clinics at Beardsley Gym at Evanston Township High School, 1600 Dodge Ave., from 10 a.m. to 4 pm. Then Dajae’s friends and teammates from the  Fellowship of Afro-American Men (F.A.A.M.) basketball league will play in the “DC3 E-Town Ballers Basketball Game.”

Saavedra Lewis, Miss Illinois Intercontinental 2013, will be a special guest.

For more information on the Dajae Coleman Foundation, visit the group’s website.