WASHINGTON — A pastor in the Deanwood neighborhood of Northeast D.C. is targeting the rise in youth gun violence by teaching teenagers conflict resolution skills.
Pastor Donald Ross says the frustration over youth-involved shootings led to the creation of the program Teaching Against Rage, Guns, Embracing Tolerance Social Skills also known as TARGETSS.
"We are tired of doing funerals, and tired of burying our young people before they even get to start life," Ross told WUSA9.
The six-week program held at the Liberty Mission Church focuses on teaching the students skills like dealing with rage and how to engage with law enforcement.
Ross says that perhaps the most important lesson in the program is conflict resolution without violence. "The kids are not taught to control impulses and use strategies to keep their impulses at bay," he said.
Preshous Jacobs says Ross who works at Anacostia High School recommended the program as she was grieving. "I actually lost someone to gun violence so Mr. Ross is a social worker at my school so he brought me to the program to I guess help me cope with it," Jacobs said.
The latest D.C. police numbers show that 250 people have been killed this year. That is 60 more lives that have been lost compared to the same time last year.
High schooler Holden Crocheron says the rise in violence is a reality that is hard to avoid. "We have one of the highest crime rates, gun violence, so get involved in programs like this because that's going to keep you out the way," he told WUSA9.
Isrial Braxton echoed the sentiment. He was also among the seven teenagers who graduated Sunday evening from the TARGETSS program. "I make sure when I leave from my friends, I say be safe, call me when you're in the house. I make sure you're safe because it's crazy stuff going on outside, " Braxton said.
Pastor Ross says he hopes to accept another group of students in March, but that depends on grant money given by the D.C. government.