MILWAUKEE — Violence in the City of Milwaukee isn’t a new problem. However, the degree to which it is impacting young people is growing quickly.

What You Need To Know

  • Students are learning peer-mediation skills through Marquette University’s Pre-College Educational Opportunity Program 

  • The program  is designed to help kids de-escalate situations before they have a violent outcome

  • Ashanti Hamilton said allowing these young people to spread the word amongst their peers will go a long way

On Monday, a 9-year-old boy was shot and killed on the city’s northwest side. 

At a time when many are asking how to prevent such senseless violence, one program is finding a unique way to take action.

Marquette University’s Pre-College Educational Opportunity Program helps prepare high schoolers in the City of Milwaukee for college. About 250 students, most from low-income communities, are taking part in this summer’s program.

Peacemaking has been a primary focus of this year’s program. Steven Robertson helps lead the program for the university. He said leaders have taught peacekeeping strategies and shown the impact violence has in the city.

“Peer mediation, we have done mock funerals, we have done going to Froedtert Hospital to see what happens with trauma. How we can be a better ambassador, a difference maker,” said Robertson.

Teaching peer-mediation strategies has been a major focus of the program. It is designed to help kids de-escalate situations before they have a violent outcome. Brandon Dike is one student taking part in the program. He said it will make a difference.

“I feel we have learned how to mediate with other peers and so we can speak to other peers and diffuse situations that could lead to violence and other things like that,” said Dike.

Milwaukee’s Office of Violence Prevention is a sponsor of the program. Director Ashanti Hamilton said allowing these young people to spread the word amongst their peers will go a long way.

“One of the best ways for young people to get this message is to get it from other young people. We have identified a group of leaders in the community that are already comfortable with spreading messages, being an example, so it was great to tap into a college bound group,” said Hamilton.

As the program concluded Tuesday students were able to come together to discuss what they had learned as part of a Violence Prevention Town Hall. It included panel discussions as well as a motivational speech from Marquette Men’s Basketball Head Coach Shaka Smart.

Related Stories