Killings of 16-year-olds show need for proactive programs

The murder last month of two 16-year-olds on Youngstown's East Side, Troy Barlow and Jaimie Helms Crum, is shocking even for a city that has consistently recorded double-digit annual homicide rates. But what is more disturbing is that a 16-year-old has been accused by police of being the shooter.
Adrian Sims remains in custody in the Mahoning County juvenile detention center. The motive for the crime: robbery.
The killings make clear that the youth of the city are not only in harm's way, but too many of them are beginning lives of crime at an early age. That does not bode well for Youngstown which is losing population, has a shrinking tax base and has one of the highest per capita unemployment rates in the nation among residents in the under-20 age group.
The need for an aggressive approach to dealing with the challenges of growing up in the city is evident and urgent, which is why we applaud recent initiatives designed to guide young people along a path that is free from crime and violence.
The appointment of Andrea Mahone as the city's community youth director is an important step in the right direction. Mahone is community director of Increase the Peace, which was created last year by the city of Youngstown, the Youngstown City School System, the Mahoning County Juvenile Court and others to promote positive activities for children.
Summer activities
Mahone's goal is to keep the city's youth busy this summer with activities such as basketball, football, line dancing, listening to inspirational speakers and just being in a safe, fun environment with other children, Mahone said last week when her appointment was announced.
"We want a place where our youth can come and hang out," she said. "We want to stop the violence and increase the love."
Those are commendable, important goals, but the murders of Barlow and Crum make clear that more than a fun environment is needed.
Mahone would benefit from sitting down with Edward DeJesus, founder of Youth Development and Research Fund in Gaithersburg, Md., who was a participant recently in a Youth Engagement Institute presentation called "Makin' It" in Boardman. "Makin' It" exposes young people to positive information about the importance of staying alive, staying free, the value of education, workforce participation and future economic opportunity.
Mahone should also contact Youngstown businessman Bruce Zoldan, who brought National Football League Hall of Famer Jim Brown to Youngstown to talk about his Amer-I-Can program. Brown was invited to Youngstown by Mayor Jay Williams.
The football great told reporters that young people in the city turn to a life of crime after struggling to deal with violence, broken homes, teenage pregnancy, joblessness and homelessness.
Brown has a simple solution to this seemingly intractable problem: "Give them self-esteem."
Self-esteem comes in many forms and can be achieved in many different ways, which is why the field experiences of individuals like Brown and DeJesus are so important in developing the programs envisioned by the city, the school system and the juvenile court.