HAMPTON, Va - In an effort to fight crime, the City of Hampton is hosting a Youth Violence Prevention Week later this month. It will feature multiple events to educate, remember victims, share resources, offer recreation, and pull the community together.
Hampton’s Office of Youth and Young Adult Opportunity says its goal is to give young people an outlet when comes to preventing violence in the city.
"The more that they have for these kids to do, the less time it is for them to commit crimes, shoot each other and have all of this senseless violence," said Natoya Banks, a Hampton mom.
Banks said a violence prevention week is needed.
"I plan to attend all the events for prevention week," she said. "I think it’s very important that we have things in place that prevent these senseless killings."
Hampton entered 2023 with a rough start when it comes to violence—13 people have been shot and killed in Hampton since the beginning of 2023, and at least 25 people have been injured in shootings this year.
Staff at the Office of Youth and Young Adult Opportunity hope youth violence prevention week can help bring peace to the city.
"Youth Violence Prevention Week will aim at goals to give young people to re-inspire hope," said Hugo Morrison with the Office of Youth and Young Adult Opportunity. "Really to give an alternative to youth and young adults in our city."
Youth Violence Prevention Week kicks off on April 23.
"We’re supposed to bury our parents, not our parents bury us. And it’s been a lot of senseless killings," Banks said.
"With the uptick that we’ve seen in the beginning of the year, we wanted to go in a different direction and provide an interactive week so we reach people in their community," Morrison said.
Middle and high school students can also meet with entrepreneurs and other local partners for a lesson on financial literacy.
"Instead of inviting them to come to us, we wanted to make sure we went to them. We have events all around our city to ensure that we reach the maximum number of people possible," Morrison said.
Youth violence prevention week is free and registration information can also be found at hampton.gov/HopefulHampton
For more information about getting involved or volunteering, contact Latiesha Handie or 757-727-2730.
