Gun violence continues to be a hot topic of discussion in big cities and small towns all across the nation, and Henderson is no exception. The community is invited to participate in a forum on June 30 to hear thoughts and concerns about how to stop gun violence, especially among young people.
Melissa Maloko is a juvenile court counselor based in Henderson and she told John C. Rose Thursday that the forum, sponsored by the Henderson-Vance Recreation & Parks Department’s youth services division, is a follow-up to an April meeting that involved key stakeholders – think law enforcement, school officials and local leaders.
“This is Part 2 because we want to hear what the community has to say about gun violence,” Maloko said during the TownTalk segment. The session will begin at 6 p.m. at the Youth Services Department, located in the gym on the former Eaton-Johnson campus.
There is no single approach to eliminating, or even curbing gun violence, Maloko said. Rather, a collaborative effort from the community, involving faith-based community leaders and others is a step in the right direction.
“We all have to work together,” Maloko said. “There’s not one single solution to address the problem.”
Young people, especially those younger than 18, may find themselves involved in gun violence for any number of reasons, she explained. It could be they feel bullied, or are influenced by older friends or even family members. “Sometimes, they want to do what they see other peers do,” she said, without understanding the seriousness or the repercussions of their actions.
Her work falls under the umbrella of the JCPC – Juvenile Crime Prevention Council – and when she meets with juveniles in the adjudication process, she said tries “to wrap resources around them” in an effort to help them be successful. “We want to work with juveniles from a therapeutic approach – putting the right programs in place.”
“A network of support is very important,” Maloko said. “We work with them now to prevent future involvement (in crime).”
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