YouthUp, Inc. will hold its “Real Talk for Stronger Families” parent/teen gathering on Monday, July 22, 2024, at Theron Ussery Community Center (816 North Macon Park Drive) at 6:00 p.m. Partnering with Macon Violence Prevention and the Recreation Department, YouthUp is holding the monthly sessions to foster more open communication for youth and their parents and grandparents to find solutions to issues teens may be facing.

“We want everyone to have a seat at the table and to have a voice in improving our lives and our futures,” says YouthUp Executive Director Amanda Smith.

“It’s because of the direct outreach to families throughout our community by amazing nonprofit organizations that we had a 43% decline in our homicide rate,” says Mayor Lester Miller. “I want to thank YouthUp and all our MVP partners for working daily to create stronger families and better futures for our children.”

The sessions are open to the public, but space is limited, and registration is required. To secure your seat at the table, email youthupmacon@yahoo.com or call 478-733-8602.

During the session, there will be food provided before the facilitators walk the guests through icebreaker activities, discussing the topic for the evening, asking about challenges the families face, and working together to find solutions. “This month’s session is about the dangers of CBD gummies containing THC,” said Smith. “This was a topic requested by teens during the June meeting.”

During the gatherings, teens will often join YouthUp’s Youth Leadership Council, where they will plan and implement fundraisers, youth rallies, and community cleanups. The Council is an elite group of teens who want to make a positive impact in Macon-Bibb through community engagement focused on nonviolent resolution to conflict. They also attend other community events to encourage each other.

“We are deeply grateful for our partnerships with MVP, Community Foundation of Central Georgia, the Peyton Anderson Foundation, and the Parks and Recreation Department,” said Smith. “It STILL takes a village.”

YouthUp is part of the Macon Violence Prevention (MVP) program, having received a $20,000 grant from Macon-Bibb County through the Community Foundation of Central Georgia. The organization has completed its first year in the program and has applied for funding for a second year of classes and other programming such as Real Talk for Stronger Families.

About Macon Violence Prevention

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.

Though MVP is still fairly new in its implementation, it has already helped the community realize significant results in becoming safer. From 2022 to 2023, Macon-Bibb had a nearly 43% reduction in homicides, from 70 to 40. The reduction in homicides for children (those 18 years old and younger) went from 15 in 2022 to 5 in 2023 – which is a 66.7% reduction in just one year.

“I want to commend all of our partners for their dedication in seeing this work through for years to come, as this will take long-term solutions to continue making our community safer,” adds Mayor Miller. “Whether it’s granting community organizations the funds they need or providing free mental health services or removing blight from our neighborhoods or increasing law enforcement technology…we are doing everything we can to improve public safety.”

While other cities in Georgia and around the country also had a decline in their homicide rate, Macon-Bibb County’s 43% far surpassed them. Atlanta had a 21% decline, Columbus a 12%, Savannah a 13%, Mobile, Alabama a 21%, and Jackson, Mississippi a 14%.

The MVP program operates under the guidance of the MVP Strategic Plan, which was introduced in June of 2021. Created by community stakeholders and violent crime experts, this strategic plan combines data and research with community feedback to implement proven solutions that reduce violent crime and strengthen the community over time.