LOUISVILLE, Ky. —
The Newburg Boys & Girls Club is helping our next generation tackle gun violence through an interactive program called the Purpose Project.
Club organizers are guiding kids through difficult conversations about the violence in Louisville, encouraging them to share their thoughts and process the emotions that stem from the community-wide issue.
On Monday, leaders from the More Movement Crew engaged club members in a variety of activities to help them understand the impact of gun violence on their generation.
"These kids are unfortunately waking up to news, waking up to sirens, waking up to all this violence in their community at such a young age, and they are losing parts of their childhood as a result of it," said More Movement Crew co-CEO, Reggie Smith.
The goal of the project is to help children build resiliency and equip them with the necessary tools to make productive decisions in the future.
Organizers believe breaking the cycle of gun violence starts with bringing kids into the conversation.
"Children want to be able to talk about what's going on, and we can't dismiss them," said Marvia Presley, Unit Director for the Newburg Boys & Girls Club. "This program allows them to know it's a safe space to talk, and teaches them the skills where they can deal with conflict."