Students at Champion Middle School in Columbus, Ohio, recently graduated from the Guns D.O.W.N. program, a transformative initiative aimed at fostering conflict resolution and positive community engagement. Throughout the year, seventh graders participated in weekly lessons on self-development, culminating in a celebratory event where they pledged to resolve conflicts peacefully and inspire their peers to do the same.
Among those celebrating were twins Alhoussane and Alhassane Sy, who expressed concerns about community violence while highlighting their newfound leadership skills. The program also featured guest speakers like Carlton Weddington, a former state representative and mentor, who shared valuable life lessons from his past. With recent drops in youth violence rates in Columbus, the city aims to continue investing in summer programs to further engage its youth.
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