Toledo teenagers announce initiative to end violence

7/23/2012

Toledo teens said during a morning press conference today that they are ready for violence in the city to end.

“I saw problems in our community that are not acceptable,” said Isaiah Middlebrooks, 17, a senior at Scott High School.

The Middlebrooks youth will serve as one of 10 “Credible Messengers” in the new Safe Communities Project, which was announced today.

The project aims to “help address the tragic and senseless violence that is reaping a toll of fear, trauma, injury, and death among too many young and older people in Toledo,” according to a statement released by the initiative.

The teens said they want to change the way their peers think about violence by presenting positive messages on posters, wrist bands, brochures, television and radio public service announcements, and through social media.