Community programs trying to address youth violence in Indianapolis

INDIANAPOLIS (WISH) — Community leaders are calling for action and accountability to address youth violence, but Indianapolis organizations that focus on helping youth say the problem is more complicated than how it seems.

The Indianapolis Metropolitan Police Department stated that the issue is not about staffing as they have officers on patrol downtown, but is is about where juveniles go after they’ve been put in custody. The only legal place to take juveniles is the Marion County Juvenile Detention Center, where space is limited. To address this, IMPD is exploring new community partnerships to provide more placement options.

Aaron Green, CEO of Struggle Made Us, a grassroots youth mentorship program, says there are not enough resources. “Parents, I understand that finding mentors and community organizations is what people would love to do. But the truth is, there’s not a lot of us to serve the needs of everybody.”

Green has been working for the past decade to build a safe landing pad for youth without one. He emphasizes that while curfews may temporarily remove kids from dangerous situations, they do not solve the issue without structure and support.

He calls for a deeper investment in community organizations, noting that while cameras and officers are being added downtown, areas such as Brightwood, Post Road, and Haughville also require resources.

“We need to put some money into the resources these kids need,” he said.

Green stresses the importance of community self-reliance, saying, “We’ve got to start fixing our problems ourselves and stop waiting on legislation and the government to do different things. We got to figure out how we can help each other and get back to that village type of structure.”

Green believes that the most crucial step Indianapolis can take to keep youth safe this summer is to support those who are actively working every day to make a difference.

Related coverage

• Downtown shooting kills 2, injures 5; ‘hundreds of unsupervised kids’ a factor
• Indianapolis mayor, IMPD pledge changes after overnight juvenile violence
• What needs to change so Indianapolis can handle more curfew detentions

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