15 Actions to Prevent Youth Violence

Pulling from my own lived experience growing up in Richmond, VA, and the hundreds of young people and families that I have had the pleasure of being in community with over the years, I come to understand that youth violence prevention should never be solely focused on just the actions of young people. You will never know their truth unless you've been privileged enough to be let into their world. Today, I challenge whoever reads this blog to go deeper and become more curious about the why.

When a young person exhibits signs of distress, we need to ask crucial questions: Are their basic needs met? Do they feel an overwhelming responsibility to provide for their family? When did they last have a meal? Do they have stable housing? Are they navigating life's challenges on their own? Only by addressing these underlying issues can we effectively begin to prevent youth violence and foster a safe and nurturing community for our youth.

Dr. Shawn Ginwright, a researcher-activist and CEO of Flourish Agenda, is our Healing-Centered Engagement sage at The Hive. He defines Persistent Traumatic Stress Environment (PTSE) as, the root causes of trauma in the environment, stemming from issues of social inequality such as racism, systematic oppression, ageism, homophobia, and othering, rather than the individual.

PTSE is not a diagnosis or disorder of the young person; it simply prompts us to examine the environmental factors that cause the most harm. Youth violence prevention begins by asking the right questions.

Here are 15 actions we can take to prevent youth violence:

Community Engagement:
- Listen and learn from young people themselves
- Listen and learn from the community themselves
- Facilitate and hold space for community dialogue
- Collaborate and strategize with other community based organizations on community engagement events (You can't do it alone, even if you want to)
Education & Skills:
- Integrate community based violence prevention into schools.
- Expand after-school programs (mentorship, life skills).
- Increase job training and vocational programs.
Mental Health Support:
- Improve access to and awareness of mental health services.
- Offer free mental health workshops.
- Train community members in mental health crisis response.
Socioeconomic Factors:
- Address poverty and inequality at the local, state and federal level.
- Create jobs and support local businesses that support the community.
- Ensure access to affordable housing and basic needs.
Restorative Practice
- Create restorative practices and agreements within the community
- Create intentional safe space for facilitation of restorative justice/mediation practices‍

Want to learn more? Here a few key community resources:

Trauma Healing Response Network - Violence prevention initiative through community outreach with many local community partners, organizations and initiatives.
A Better Day Than Yesterday - Family reunification and reentry services after incarceration. Food pantry, haircuts, employment opportunities
RVA Community Fridges - A mutual aid organization offering free food 24/7 while teaching us what better together really means
Feed The Streets RVA - Provides free food and hygiene products in Richmond
Liberation RVA - Homeless veterans services, food pantry twice a week, senior services, addiction and recovery services, resources for young mothers
And, obviously, The Hive - Supports young people in Richmond as they transition into adulthood. Young adults who have aged out of foster care or are justice impacted-with no caregiver support. A incentivized program that supports young people age 18-25

‍One Last Nugget of Wisdom ✨

Beyond supporting existing local initiatives, continuously identify unmet needs in your community and support those addressing those gaps. Remember that unmet needs change often, and we must do our best collectively to meet our community where they are.

And to our frontline friends and accomplices, remember that it's essential to prioritize your own healing. Even the best heart workers can inflict harm on the community without realizing it. Good intentions don't always have the impact we think they do.

I have a friend who always greets me with a question, and I'm leaving it here for you to answer: How is your heart today?