Long Road Ahead For Nonprofit Aimed At Helping Youths Post-Riots
BALTIMORE (WJZ) -- Months after Baltimore students clashed with police during riots, the city says it's making progress in helping those young people. But some parents and students say not enough is being done.
Christie Ileto has the candid conversations.
Parents say the lack of resources for kids in the city is an understatement, and that change needs to happen quickly.
Their frustrations escalated to violence. To stop a repeat of April 27, city leaders created One Baltimore -- a nonprofit that tackles the needs of city youth.
Michael Cryor is the chair.
"I'm pleased that we've done what we said, but we haven't said that we're going to solve all the problems in two months," he said.
The group found jobs for 3,000 young people this summer, while raising millions for programs down the pike.
"I don't even know what they've done post the riots," a woman named Shekelia said.
But parents like Shekelia remain frustrated as crime and homicides are up.
"I haven't seen anything. Nothing different or anything," she said. "I'm just trying to figure out -- what did they do?"
Some parents argue not enough is being done, saying there's still a shortage of youth programs and recreation centers.
"The ones that are open are very not up to par," one student said.
Some students say there's a systemic lack of resources, and youth voice aren't being heard.
"Everybody speaks for the youth, but nobody asks the youth," one girl said.
City leaders insist more programs are coming.
"It takes a lot of work for the city to try to get programs initiated, but they need to start working as fast as possible," said William Scipio, Sandtown RAC.
Many fearing unrest could happen again.
City leaders and One Baltimore plan to have more meetings this year and also hope that more children will attend with their parents.
One Baltimore says it's raised over $15 million for future programs.
