​According to the Center for Disease Control, youth violence is the second leading cause of death among young people ages 15-24 years old (CDC, 2014).  More than 93% of communities within Kentucky have a lower crime rate than Lexington.

 

“Youth violence refers to harmful behaviors that start early – such as bullying, slapping, or hitting - and continue into young adulthood as a victim, an offender, or a witness to the violence,” suggests the Center for Disease Control (CDC, 2014).

They also mention risk factors that lead to youth violence include:

 

• Prior history of violence

• Drug, alcohol, or tobacco use

• Association with delinquent peers

• Poor family functioning

• Poor grades in school

• Poverty in the community

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To overcome these issues, the entire Lexington community – teachers, parents, students, community leaders, and businesses - must stand behind a united movement that our youth relate with!

 

In 2012, the Lexington Youth Initiative (LYI) Committee of the Central Kentucky Council for Peace and Justice conducted a survey of all Fayette Co. high school students. From listening to our youth, the committee found that youth feel strongly about three topics in particular: a lack of part-time & summer jobs, “real-life” skills (job hunting, social & family skills, etc.), and “safer places to hang out with their friends” (CKCPJ, 2014).

 

 

So...as parents, educators, public officials, and responsible community members – we must listen to what our youth are crying for, and do the most we can to provide for their development as productive citizens.

 

Ultimately, the ‘YOLO! Stop the Violence Experience’ is focused on decreasing youth violence, educational excellence, and self improvement – it's an opportunity to plant seeds of positive influence. As a result of this event & the support we seek, Lexington, KY will see a more united effort from all parties involved in the development of our young people.  

 

This is a uniting opportunity in which businesses and community members can affect change among the entire community, and act on their statements of corporate social responsibility.

 

We believe in the approach that it takes a village to raise our young, and we must all have a hand in the decreasing of youth violence in our city!