CHARLOTTE, N.C. — "The youth is probably one of the biggest issues," recent Hopewell High School graduate Michael Spates said. "They don’t really have guidance but they have all the resources, they just don’t know how to use them.
Michael said violence among juveniles is only getting worse, with many kids left without assistance.
It's an issue Chanda Spates, the CEO of Flourish Foundation Project is working to tackle, all in hopes of getting ahead of the next tragedy.
"How many times have we had the mass shooting where the child said his person did or that, those are red flags," Spates said.
Flourish Foundation Project's goal is to teach kids how to release and manage their emotions, whether that’s through music or communication with professionals they trust.
"We are teaching them entrepreneurship skills, how to mix a beat, edit, or basic coding," Spates said. "These are literally STEM career paths."
Spates said as they work to get more kids involved, they're also looking to break down barriers, such as access to transportation.
"The challenge is getting them here, so my next agenda is for us to get buses and transportation to get them here easily," Spates said.
She said that by addressing issues such as suicide prevention, gun violence, and even bullying, they're hoping to touch as many kids as possible and build great leaders.
"We will be the example for the rest of the world on what a community can do when we come together," Spates said.
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