COLUMBUS, Ohio (WCMH) – The city tends to see an uptick in youth-related crime during the summer months.
According to the latest data from Columbus police, 17 of this year’s homicide victims were 21 years old or younger, and 24 homicide suspects are in the same age group.
This has prompted the city to partner with community organizations to create trade programs designed to keep children out of harm’s way.
For the second summer in a row, Mothers of Murdered Columbus Children has brought back its Trendy Trades Youth Summer Program, allowing participants as young as 11 to learn a trade of their choice. Not only does this keep them safe, but it also teaches them important life skills.
“Well, we all know that youth violence goes up in the summer and it’s clearly tied to having less activities and less opportunities to connect and be productive and make something with your life, and so Trendy Trades is responding to that,” Cityview Church Pastor Joe Graves said.
“I think this has done, wholeheartedly and honestly, and we’re really trying to help the community,” Mothers of Murdered Columbus Children Podcast Instructor Michael St. Clair said.
Children aged 11-17 had the option of choosing a traditional trade like construction or automotive or a trendier trade like podcasting, marketing, or sign language.
“Some of our programs, automotive and construction, it’s opening kids’ eyes to something they may not see on a normal basis,” St. Clair said. “It’s just giving them options, more options than what they may have.”
Organizers said it’s all about being proactive. It takes a village to keep children safe and offer them a safe space where they can learn and grow.
“I think everyone wants to learn how to contribute to society, like I want, there is great purpose and meaning when I have something that I can offer the world, and everything from just learning how to change your own oil to learning how to build a house to something as simple as learning how to communicate a little bit more effectively, all of these are skills that will benefit you, whether you go to college or not,” Graves said.
Children in the program said they’re looking forward to these next five weeks and are excited to see how they’ll grow.
“I want to get my confidence more up because I want to be an actor,” Dyonna Aleston, who is attending the marketing and communications class, said.
At the end of the five weeks, the children enrolled will have to submit a final project showcasing what they’ve learned.
There are still spots available. For more information, click here.
