(upbeat music)
- [Narrator] The University of Louisville
Youth Violence Prevention Research Center
began violence prevention work
to include youth as part of the solution,
engaging them as community leaders.
The YVPRC's approach has provided
meaningful leadership opportunities
for young people to grow and thrive.
- One of the things that we heard loud and clear.
Young people did not want something that was traditional.
Part of what we wanted to do
was to make sure that we found some way
to incorporate what was happening to them
and how they were experiencing
violence in their communities.
- I think it's essential for youth to be involved
with youth violence work just because it affects them.
- My work here could lead me
to be doing something even greater.
It's getting me in the community,
it's getting me knowing community members,
knowing who I need to talk to to make a difference
so I can not only impact Louisville, but the whole world.
- When we go to these events
that are held by communities in the West End or so,
it's really family-like,
so when we are giving this information or whatever,
we're trying to look out for people who look like us.
- So here at Violence Prevention,
we wanna give you real-life simulators,
so you can understand conflict resolution,
so you can understand how to problem solve
without being caught in that moment for the very first time.
So if I can teach you with educating you about who you are
and how to love yourself,
it's easier for you to understand
how to problem solve through conflict resolution
with the next person that you might encounter.
- We dive deep into the whys,
just why are things the way they are,
why is the West End not safe for some people
or why does it look a certain way?
You know, it's those type of questions
that just make us really aware
of the fact that structural racism is a thing
just because of everything
that residents of the West End
have to face on a daily basis.
- One of the things that we often fail to realize
is that they are the ones who are most affected by it
and they're also the ones
who are most proximal to the events.
If we don't include them,
we're just missing such a resource
in wanting to understand the phenomena of youth violence.
- I think it's important to engage youth,
because youth are stakeholders
and if we're going to do our best
to promote the best life that we can
for the next generation, then we have to have
their voice at the forefront of the conversation.
- If I can find any way to make a change, I need to do that.
It's my obligation.
- The narratives so frequently about young people
are that they don't care.
If I have one message for adults
who are contemplating this, it's to really give them space,
recognize them as important contributors to this work.
They're more than willing to take a leadership role.
- I think what motivates me is the fact
that this is an ongoing struggle
that's lasted for decades, even centuries,
and so I know that I'm a part of something bigger.
- My vision of the West End in the future,
it looks like unity.
It looks like everybody being on the same page,
it looks like a peaceful whole community
where you walk down the street and you see beautiful houses,
you see families really engaging with their neighbors.
You see the beauty that the West End could be.
- I found that YVPRC is a great way
for me to make a difference in my community
and show my people that I love them.
My hope for Louisville is that work continues to get done
and it is being done to help solve
the bigger social problems that face us as a city
and that no matter what, people never lose hope.
(upbeat music)