New peace patio built to keep kids in the Hilltop safe in honor of 15-year-old Issa Jeylani

COLUMBUS, Ohio (WSYX) — One year after Issa Jeylani's death, a local organization opened Issa's Peace Patio as a safe haven for kids in the community.

Issa was shot and killed while playing soccer outside on July 22, 2022. He was 15 years old at the time.

The teen was active with MY Project USA, an organization based in the Hilltop that works to empower and keep young people safe.

The organization promised to open a patio in honor of Issa and did so on Friday.

"It was a lot of emotions running through me and my family and his friends," said Ali Jeylani, Issa's older brother and soccer coach.

Issa's family and friends feel the patio is a way to carry on his legacy.

"It’s a powerful thing," said Jeylani. "It’s a big meaning to me and the community."

The patio is a place for young people to spend time together, eat a meal, do homework, and escape the violence in their neighborhoods. It's a place for peace.

"I feel at peace in knowing that Issa's at peace," Jeylani said.

It's also a place to sit and remember their brother and friend.

"I feel like Issa is in a better place, and he’s happy with us being here because we’re thinking about him, we’re memorializing him, and we’re just saying out of trouble," said Sharmarke Abdi, Issa's close friend and soccer teammate.

"He’s up there in heaven smiling right now, so I think that he would love this idea that we’re doing this for him," Jeylani said.

Outside the new place for peace, there's violence in their neighborhoods.

"I feel really traumatized still and hurt, but at the same time, I don’t control guns," said Jeylani. "All I can say is stop the gun violence, but hopefully, it comes to an end, and the state or the president can do something about it."

Jeylani wants it to stop for the kids he coaches. He hopes they take a page out of his little brother's playbook.

"Grow up like Issa being kind to others, being nice, and doing good things like what Issa was," he said.

Jeylani, Abdi, and Issa's family and friends are committed to living their lives like Issa, for Issa.

"When we say do it for Issa, we mean do good things for Issa, like become successful in life, and do it for him," said Abdi. "We want him to be happy with us."

There's one more promise to keep for Issa. MY Project USA is raising money to build an indoor space, the Issa Jeylani Memorial Recreation Center, for kids to play soccer and other sports. The organization's leaders feel an indoor space will keep other kids from another tragedy.