Two new steps to reduce youth violence in Jacksonville by supporting at-risk students

Two new efforts are in the works to support Duval County students who are the most at-risk for violence.

Three Jacksonville teens have died from gun violence so far this year.

In February 2017, Action News Jax reported Jacksonville Mayor Lenny Curry and then Duval County Public Schools Superintendent Dr. Nikolai Vitti were in talks to reduce youth violence and crime.
Two years later, we caught back up with the mayor and the new DCPS superintendent about what came of those talks.

The mayor pointed to his reform of the Jacksonville Children’s Commission into Kids Hope Alliance.

“Kids that are at the most risk for ending up in the juvenile justice system, how do we get to them and give them opportunities?” Curry asked.

STORY: Community reaction to recent violence in Jacksonville

Kids Hope Alliance’s CEO recently began working with Duval County Public Schools to deliver more resources to alternative schools.

“The after-school programs, the summer programs, the case managers are not in the alternative schools. Those are the public schools that are schools of last resort for kids that have gotten into trouble,” Curry said.

Duval County’s new superintendent, Dr. Diana Greene, said one obstacle to after-school programs at alternative schools is bus transportation for those students.

That’s something the district will need to figure out before those changes can move forward.

In 2017, Curry and Greene's predecessor Dr. Nikolai Vitti talked about the importance of mentoring.
Greene said that's become a reality.

“5,000 Role Models is a mentoring program that I believe came from that conversation about reducing the crime in Jacksonville,” Greene said.

Greene said more than 400 students in Duval County high schools have mentors and the district is now starting its first elementary mentorship program, with a focus on mentoring African-American boys.

Cox Media Group