TOLEDO, Ohio — There have been four homicides in Toledo in 2022 and two of the victims were teenagers. This unnerving statistic has organizations like the Toledo Arts Commission hoping to push youths toward painting and other creative outlets to keep them out of harm's way.
The commission's creative manager, David Ross, is familiar with one of the programs in the commission -- Young Artists at Work. Ross went through the program, which is now in its 29th year, in his youth.
He's used his own experience in the program to advocate for other young artists to do the same.
"Right now, we have to change our mentality to be more like a village," Ross said. "We're constantly giving kids different outlets and constantly exposing them to different and positive things."
The organization inspires local and young artists in the community by giving them a positive space to gather and make new friends.
"They see negativity in every walk of life: social media, in schools, bullying, all these different things they're exposed to," Ross said. "But it's rare for someone to reach out and try to reach out to someone to connect with them."
The Arts Commission's Youth Services Manager, Natalie Gray, said the organization has the mentality that "all teens are at risk" no matter their background. She hires over 40 teens a year to work in the summer on projects around the city.
She said employing youths like this prevents crime and violence and instead gives them a productive and enjoyable way to spend their time.
Gray also wants to show teenagers they have a purpose.
"It's important to show youth that they need to share their ideas and that the community cares about them," she said.
Ross said he is working with the courts on getting juveniles in the system probationary hours for community service or working, but he said parents need to also check on their children too.
"Check on your child's empathy, check on how they respond to violence, check on if they're pursuing their passions, so we are working on this document now," Ross said.
Applications are open until March 17 for the Young Artists at Work program. You don't have to be a great artist, just willing to work, Gray said. The program pays minimum wage but she said they plan to increase it. More information can be found here.