COLUMBUS, Ohio — According to a Columbus police report, 18 of this year's homicide victims were 21 years or younger, and 22 homicide suspects are in the same age range. Those numbers have fueled many community organizations to create more youth programming for kids.
The goal of the programs is to create more opportunities for kids in the community while keeping them out of harm's way.
Mifflin Middle School student Deshjauna Jones is a youth member of Mothers of Murdered Columbus Children (MOMCC) and is learning how to paint this summer.
“We learned how to fill holes and we took out all of these and the light switches. Then, we filled in the holes and evened out some of the bumps in the walls so the paint would go on smooth,” she said.
Her family knows the pain of violence firsthand after her uncle was shot and killed.
“To see my mom and dad cry when birthdays and memorials come up — it is kind of hard,” she said.
That type of pain is what MOMCC is trying to prevent through initiatives like “Under Triple Digits” and their youth summer program "Trendy Trades."
“We used data to really drive how we are doing our programming. The time frames. We strategically have time frames through the hotspots where youth have been involved in gun violence,” said MOMCC Founder Malissa Thomas-St. Clair.
The group received $125,000 from the city for youth programming and is teaching kids real-life skills they can use for future careers, like construction and fixing cars.
“We have to go back to trades. Not everyone is suited for college, and that is OK. Instead of making them feel inferior, we need to empower them about so many things they can do in this world without having to go to the higher level of education,” Thomas-St. Clair said.
The organization hopes those skills help keep them away from violence. That's the reason Kendal Coleman is teaching these kids how to paint.
“I'm involved with them during the school year, so I see them every day. I just keep up with the news and hear about some of the terrible things that happen with a lot of young youth getting killed and murdered,” Coleman said.
Jones said if not for this program, she would probably be sitting at home. She's glad for the experience.
“I think more kids should join it and stay out of trouble because it helps you stay busy and stop the violence,” Jones said.
In total, about 100 kids will participate in the program over the next five weeks.