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DECATUR, Ill. (WCIA) — Schools were off for Martin Luther King Jr. Day and a community center in Decatur used the opportunity to teach the younger generation about violence prevention.
Two organizations partnered together to make it happen. Teenagers from different areas met on Monday to listen in on a seminar.
Organization leaders said it’s time to put the guns down and set these kids up for success. Pre-teens and teenagers went through seminars in an attempt to get them to change their mindsets about running the streets.
“Our future, you know, our kids to try to teach them how to get along instead of shooting each other and fighting and getting kicked out of school,” Shemuel Sanders, Shemilah Outreach Executive Director, said.
Sanders said this is something he’s been focusing on for a couple of years. Old King’s Orchard Executive Director Devon Joyner said he teamed up with Sanders to try and put an end to things.
“If we collaborate, we build capacity. The more room we have, the more area locations, the more kids we can get our hands on,” Joyner said.
With them both on the same path and trying to make their community a better place, they’re moving in the right direction.
“It’s all about bringing folks together. Our kids will have a lot of social outlets anymore. You know, the skating rinks aren’t available to them. You know, they’re afraid to go to the parks. Actually, the winter is bad for them, you know, so they don’t get to do much,” Joyner said.
Joyner said the new generation is influenced easily and sometimes not taught correctly.
“You know, it’s all learned behavior. And it’s up to us as adults to break down those stereotypes amongst ourselves,” Joyner said.
Sanders said someone has to take initiative and do what’s best for the community.
“As long as we stay on top of it and try to keep these youth together and try to teach them how to get along. I think this is very important that we come together with these youth to try to get them to get along,” Sanders said.