YouthUp, Inc., a Macon Violence Prevention (MVP) partner, is hosting opportunities for families to sit down and talk through its new initiative Real Talk for Stronger Families.
“We want to offer parents and teens a place to gather and have meaningful conversations on navigating the ups and downs of today’s world,” said YouthUp Founder and Executive Director Amanda Smith. “YouthUp believes that it still takes a village and if we work together, our youth can reap the benefits.”
YouthUp, Inc. is a MVP grant recipient and has partnered up with the Recreation Department to host these monthly gatherings from March to October. The first meeting will be held Tuesday, March 12, 2024 at Rosa Jackson Recreation Center (1211 Maynard Street) at 6:00 p.m. Seats are very limited, so you must register by calling (478) 733-8602 or emailing youthupmacon@yahoo.com.
This month’s topic is Helping Our Kids Rise Above Peer Pressure. A light meal will be served at each gathering and attendees can offer tips and suggestions on what works for them and what doesn’t.
About the Macon Violence Prevention Program
Macon Violence Prevention is an evidence-based, multifaceted program created to address public safety in Macon-Bibb County. Supported and funded by the consolidated government, MVP is a community-wide effort that brings together elected officials, community leaders and representatives from more than 20 agencies, organizations, and departments. It has been credited as a central reason the homicide rate dropped by 43% in one year.
The MVP program operates under the guidance of the MVP Strategic Plan, which was created in June of 2021 by community stakeholders and violent crime experts. The plan combines data and research with community feedback to identify and implement proven solutions that reduce violent crime and strengthen the community over time.
In its first two years, Macon-Bibb and the Community Foundation of Central Georgia have awarded more than $1.6 million to 56 local nonprofit organizations that have identified proven or innovative solutions to reducing violent crime.