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Local organizations are seeking solutions to end the cycle of youth retaliation

CMPD said revenge is one of the biggest factors causing an increase in juvenile shootings.

CHARLOTTE, N.C. — Community leaders are seeking solutions to break the cycle of retaliation among juveniles.

"I want everybody to understand it's not worth it," Team TruBlue Founder Will Adams said. "You got a gun in your hand right now, you are literally about to throw your life away."

To combat revenge, Adams visits families who have lost a loved one to a bullet.

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Adams said he knows firsthand what it's like to want to retaliate after he lost his only son to gun violence in 2008. Now he’s using his story and pain to end the cycle, educating teens and their families about the consequences of revenge.

"I go out and I'm trying to step in and intervene and help out in any kind of way," Adams said.

The Boys to Men Foundation is also working to help kids make smarter decisions.

"We are creating a safe space for these young men to have open and honest dialogue," Boys to Men Foundation Mentor Keith West said. "Instead of using violence maybe we can have a conversation."

RELATED: As city leaders work to tackle juvenile violence, teens are speaking out

West said they're incorporating interactive sessions to prevent students from escalating conflict by watching videos and discussing different ways to handle problems.

"They're very engaged and we always ask their thoughts about each scene and how could the person have handled the situation better," West said.

Local groups said while they're seeing some encouraging results, they're hoping more community members will step up to help because the next bullet could impact someone you love.

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"Let's do this one kid at a time," Adams said.

WCNC Charlotte is committed to reporting on the many issues facing the communities we serve. We tell the stories of people working to solve persistent social problems. We examine how problems can be solved or addressed to improve the quality of life and make a positive difference. WCNC Charlotte is seeking solutions for you. Send your tips or questions to newstips@wcnc.com.

Contact Tradesha Woodard at twoodard1@wcnc.com and follow her on FacebookX and Instagram.

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