Community activist working to combat gun violence

Indianapolis, Indiana – Another option is the biggest thing that can make a difference in someone’s life.

“If they don’t have an outlet to release it, then we start to see what we’re seeing in our city right now, it’s just all-out war,” said Kareem Hines with New Breed of Youth.

For that reason, Hines started the New B.O.Y organization.

“We’re moving them from what they think is normal, putting them in an uncomfortable situation, but just exposing them to a different environment than what they’re used to. Because, those same conversations I can have with a young man here, change when I can take them from their environment, they change. Their responses change when I can put them in a different environment,” Hines said.

It gives kids like 15-year-old Michael, another chance at life. “We got some 15 years old’s that are dying, so New B.O.Y gives us father figures, they get you in the right position, keep you focused,” Michael said.

According to Lt. Shane Foley with the Indianapolis Metropolitan Police Department, community involvement can have a positive impact on crime rates. “That’s what we want. We don’t want to be involved. We don’t want to lock people up. Because, when there’s a homicide and we solve that case, there’s no celebration that takes place. We’re not excited that we have a homicide arrest because that means there’s a person who has lost their life, and there’s another person who is going to be off the streets away from their families and away from being a person who contributes to society for many many years,” Lt. Foley said.

Being able to put a ball in their hands or giving them something to grab their interests, allows the kids to feel validated by something other than the streets, Hines said.

“Our young people right now, in their eyes, what success is, what clout is, is guns. How big my gun is, how big of a clip I can attach to my gun, how I can turn a basic gun into an automatic gun by putting a switch on it. Until we balance that with something, a martial arts class, a boxing class, a sports program, we have to give them an outlet,” Hines said.

According to Michael, it feels good to be heading the right way and it’s all because of Hines and the New B.O.Y organization. “It’s been great, it changed my lifestyle, it changed who I am, it made me a better person,” said Michael.