LEXINGTON, Ky. — City-led youth mentors are working hard to reduce one neighborhood’s ongoing concerns about challenges with young people in the area.
Youth advocates against gun violence, One Lexington, is connecting with kids near the Gainesway neighborhood of Tates Creek, showing them alternatives to keep the peace.
Executive director Devine Carama said his group was notified by the Lexington Housing Authority of complaints and concerns about incidents involving juveniles, including bullying, fighting, vandalism and other minor acts of violence.
It’s why they are responding with direct impact.
“There’s great people that live out here and it’s in a part-way area. We’re just trying to do our part,” Carama said. “We were here. We engaged two young people who had conflicts with each other. They got to be pretty serious, and we were able to mediate that, bring them together in a positive space.”
Echoing his key phrase and nonprofit name, “It takes a village”, not only are they connecting with kids, but their parents and parental figures to give them social resources too.
“But sometimes it’s connecting family, young people to resources. We’ve been able to help people with temporary housing.” Carama explained. “We’ve been able to connect people with jobs since we’ve been out here. So really, the only way you can serve the community is to be present in the community. And so we can do a lot from the mayor’s office, but we have to be outside to truly do the work.”
Because the neighborhood is outside of a three-school campus and a variety of age groups, Carama says it’s the perfect opportunity to reach students like Liam, who says the impact is significant.
“Here is, you know, enjoying their snacks and having a great time. They’re interacting with, you know, new people that have never met, people that just sort them out there, making handshakes, being very positive toward each other.” Liam shared.
He says he’s also encouraged to incorporate what he learns into his schoolwork.
Liam said, “At the end of eighth grade, something around like this. Serving others and helping and helping other people. And I think this is a great way to help me with my upcoming project.
While Carama says they have a few more weeks here, they plan to continue working in this area, assess other neighborhoods, and do more as needed.
“Even though this is prevention, work is responsive, obviously we don’t have the bandwidth to be in every single underserved pocket of Lexington. but if they’re having some issues, if they could use some presence, then we want to be able to be responsive and do that.” Carama says they hope to set the standard for consistency, prevention, and reducing real conflict.