SEATTLE - Continued killings on the streets of Seattle involving gangs and young people have some looking to a spiritual source to stop the bloodshed.

Community organizers hoping an upcoming visit from the Dalai Lama will change hearts and minds.

The aftereffects of fear and violence line the streets White Center. Gangs run the streets and teens like Uona Lakalaka admit it's easy to get sucked in -- given the hopelessness, they experience every day.

Uona says it starts with the gunshots.

"Sorta scary because you never know it might be one of your family members getting shot at so, yeah it's a very dangerous world out here though," she said.

Since January alone, several young black men have been gunned down on the streets of Seattle and South King County.

Many of the killings are believed to be related to a recent resurgence of gang violence. Kids on the streets say what's missing is basic human compassion and kindness.

Ebonee Heller is part of Seattle's Youth Violence Prevention Network - a group of 100 people working with kids as young as 10 years old to keep them off the streets.

The group is planning to bring at-risk kids to next week's Seeds of Compassion event with the Dalai Lama in Seattle with the hope of opening their eyes and hearts to a new way of thinking.

"If you love yourself then you can love the world and you can change another person. One person can be part of a movement," Heller said.

But Ebonee knows unless those seeds are nurtured long after the Dalai Lama leaves, they will likely die in the crack of Seattle's streets.