ACTION

Each year, Wichita's Promise Youth Council (WPYC) conducts ACTION (Adolescents Coming Together to Inform Others of our Needs). Every three years, WPYC facilitates focus groups with area youth to determine their concerns. In the two years in between, WPYC focuses on publicizing youth concerns to area leaders. In ACTION '98, WPYC found that violence was the number four concern of area youth, while in 2000/2001, violence was the number two concern of area youth. Alarmed by this increase, WPYC decided to focus on better understanding the youth perception of violence as well as what youth feel would reduce violence. To accomplish this, WPYC conducted focus groups in high schools throughout Sedgwick County. A Violence Prevention Committee was created to oversee the coordination of focus groups, compilation of responses, publication of focus group results, and the presentation of results to the community.

PURPOSE

The purpose of this research is to fully understand the youth perspective on violence. While WPYC has over 100 members, the Council felt that more youth input was needed to better understand the issues surrounding youth violence. This research is intended to inform community leaders, neighborhood associations, teachers, school administrators, law enforcement, parents and other youth-oriented organizations to the issues surrounding youth violence. It is also meant to publicize what area youth think can be done to prevent or reduce violence. While reading this information, it is important to realize that youth know best how violence affects their lives, as well as what solutions to violence youth would support.

WPYC is committed to addressing the concerns of area youth, however one council can not accomplish as much as many groups working together. All who receive this packet are encouraged to think about how they can collaborate with others in their community and utilize the suggestions in this report to reduce violence and create a safer environment for youth.