CHARLOTTE, N.C. — A community-based group is using a nationally recognized approach to seek solutions to violence.
Youth Advocate Programs has an initiative called, "Alternatives to Violence" that builds relationships with people in high-risk environments to foster change. Their mission is to build trust so they can help people and intervene during conflicts.
The program's team was out on Beatties Ford Road Thursday evening to connect with the community so they could then connect them to vital resources on an individualized basis.
The corner of Beatties Ford Road and Catherine Simmons Avenue may have a violent past, but neighbors and advocates are trying to bring peace.
"I think that the community is growing and it’s in the process of educating itself,” a resident named Sherry said.
Volunteers handed out food, water, Narcan, and helpful information. They also took down people's contact information and their needs so they could start getting them individualized help.
"If we can build these relationships and make connections more frequently, then we can really start to generate some change," Kwasi Amponsa, the program manager, said.
Amponsa said a big part of building trust with the community is keeping the program separate from police and public agencies.
"There's a lot of mistrust," he said, adding that a lot of people worry they'll get in trouble or could go back to jail.
By staying a private entity with ties in the neighborhood, Amponsa hopes residents won’t be scared to reach out for help, and he can directly intercept violence.
"If we can connect with individuals who need somewhere to sleep, and we can help them with that, that'll stop them from breaking into these buildings," he shared as an example of how their work stops crime.
In June alone, the Beatties Ford Road team said it referred 89 people in the neighborhood to resources like employment, housing, and mental health.
They also have a team in the West Boulevard corridor.
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