Crime & Safety

Role Model Relates to Troubled Teens (Video)

Douglasville Patch will present a short video each day this week featuring participants and volunteers in the Youth Against Violence Program.

Local teens and police got together Saturday as they do every week but this time those in Douglasville's Youth Against Violence Program had a recent tragedy to use as a teachable moment. The group discussed Thursday's shooting at Price Middle School in Atlanta, where a 14-year-old student was shot in the head.

In its sixth year, the Douglasville Police Department's Youth Against Violence Program is a proactive approach to keeping teens out of trouble and helping them make good decisions.

In the attached video, a program instructor and role model, Art Powell, says he connects with the teens in the program because he was also a troubled youth who spent time in jail.

Find out what's happening in Douglasvillewith free, real-time updates from Patch.

Deputy Police Chief Gary Sparks, a founder of the program, estimates that more than 1,500 teens have been through the course over the six years of the program's existence.

Other Douglasville Patch stories in this series:

Find out what's happening in Douglasvillewith free, real-time updates from Patch.

Teen Shares Why Youth Against Violence Program is Important (Video)

Father Shares Why Program Keeps His Son Out of Trouble (Video)

Teen Shares Why Program Keeps Her Out of Trouble (Video)

Recent Shooting Used as Teachable Moment for Youth Against Violence Program


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