13 News Now: Newport News investing $500 million to support the city's youth

Sarah Hammond, 13 News Now

NEWPORT NEWS, Va. — The City of Newport News has announced a $500 million youth initiative program—Youth T.H.R.I.V.E

Mayor Philip Jones calls 2024 the ‘Year of the Youth,’ and says now, they’re putting their money where their mouth is. THRIVE stands for Transforming Hearts, Renewing Investment and Valuing Empowerment. 

During an unveiling Monday morning, he said the investment embodies a holistic approach to creating a supportive environment where young people feel valued while leveraging the city's financial investment to offer workforce training programming.

"It’s always going to be easier to build up children than to repair broken men," Jones said, quoting Frederick Douglass. "We have amazing young people, but we have to invest in them because ultimately, they’re the future councilwoman and mayor and CEO."

Jones said they’re investing $1 million into bringing back the Youth Career Program to combat youth unemployment. Councilwoman Tina Vick said they’re working to partner with local businesses and job sites. 

"When we can prepare our children as youth, that leads to more productive adults," Vick said. "The Youth Career Program is positive, it’s providing job training opportunities, their ability to be able to earn money and so, those three things right there are key factors that will keep them in the program and keep them away from the crime."

Jones said community partners won't have to worry about the cost because the city will cover the $15 per hour.

The Mayor said the $500 million is coming from current investments and the operating and capital budgets.

They’re also using the money for wrap-around services like mental health and keeping recreation centers open longer.

With $200,000, they’re also giving kids a safe space to hang out with the basketball program 'Night Nets.'

"It is a moral imperative to ensure that we have a safe place for all of our kids," said Jones.

Troy Ketchmore, co-founder of Ketchmore Kids, said they’re getting a piece of the investment for their own programming and continuing to intervene in gun violence.

"It’s great. It shows that the city is on board, that they’re putting their money where their mouth is. It’s going to take a whole lot more but this is a great start and I applaud them with this effort," he said.

Ketchmore said anything to keep kids off the streets and away from guns is a positive move.

"Our young youth needs hands-on supervision. They need something to do. It has to be consistent. Any effort to galvanize them in a positive way and have them doing something productive is always great," he said, emphasizing their own mission of 'Ketchmore kids than drugs, Ketchmore kids than guns, Ketchmore kids than prisons, Ketchmore kids than the streets.'

"Everybody has to get involved if they want to see the reduction that we want to see," he continued.

Jones said this initiative is part of their solution to combat the recent wave of youth violence.

"I know there has been a crime wave happening across Hampton Roads and here in Newport News, the way we’re going to mitigate that is number one, safe spaces, but also number two, the ability to have dignified employment and jobs which will help prevent a lot of this," he said.

You can read more about the initiative and how to get involved by clicking here.

Read the original article here.