Is mentoring teens the answer to stopping youth crime? Some local officials say it’s a start.
As part of a 10-News investigation on juvenile crime, we spent some time with a local mentoring group called I Support Youth to talk about how they’re helping curb teen crime in our community and the challenges they face.
I Support Youth’s mission is to empower kids and encourage them to be leaders in their schools, communities and churches. They meet several times a month where they either take part in a community service event or go on a field trip.
There are more than 120 students involved in the co-ed program, but when we sat down with them we met with a group of young men and the nonprofit group’s founder, Executive Director Lewis Stephens Jr.
Starting the meeting off, he asked the students, “Tell me a little bit about I Support Youth and the things you’ve experienced.”
“It’s very beneficial. It opened up my eyes to college readiness,” said Brice Lewis.
10-year-old Ja’mari Burden said the program has changed his life.
“I just can’t stop thinking about this program. It’s been getting in my head so much I just want to come every day,” he said.
On one of their recent field trips they visited Bethune-Cookman University.
“We learned a lot about Mary Bethune. It was a good experience,” said Robert Tullis
“I learned how to be respectful,” said Jakobey Harrell, and Hunter Neal said, “I think it's taught me a lot about where to go and how to conduct myself in the business world.”
Through the group's job readiness program they’ve employed more than 170 students over the past two years, finding them jobs all over the community.
“Whatever it is they want to do in life we want to have the necessary tools for them to get there,” said Stephens.
As each student talked about the great experiences and memories they’ve made being a part of the program, Parents shared their appreciation as well.
“My son has been able to go on different college tours. Through that, he’s getting exposure to see different people and get a different experience from what he’s getting here in St. Pete,” said Alfrieda Lewis.
Stephens said, “We’re seeing lives change every single day, we’re seeing young people not making the necessary grades who are making good grades now. We’re seeing young people in the streets come off the streets, and get involved and want to go to college.
“I had a kid who was arrested nine times before he joined our program. Nine times.”
I Support Youth helps children from 8- to 18-years-old.
“We start very young with pouring life into these kids and letting them know you can achieve and do some great things because society is already cutting them off at third grade, said Stephens.
And while the program is working to make a difference, there are a lot of challenges.
“Anyone knows for a mentor program or any program to run you need finances and the hardest part for me is that I have to turn away kids. Every trip we go on costs money. For example, from here in St. Pete to Orlando, it was $1,500 for the bus alone. That doesn’t include food or any other expense. And you have to think, we’ve been on 10 trips.”
Ja’mari Burden says he’s thankful for the new experiences and relationships he’s building through this program.
“My mom kept telling me, 'You’re going to like it. He’s a great person. He’s a great man.' He’s like that. God made him a good man.”
With a lack of funding, Stephens says he has spent his savings investing in I Support Youth. It’s become a financial burden to parents and volunteers hosting fundraisers to make work, and it’s still not enough.
If you’d like to help I Support Youth or learn more about their program, visit their Facebook page.
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