Kellie Cors knows firsthand the importance of addressing the impact of violence on youth, especially boys.
She lost her own son to gun violence when he was just 13 years old.
The painful void impacted the path of her teenage nephew who would himself die in a shooting when he was 17.
Seeing the need for a safe place where at-risk youth could share their pain led her to form Peace Amongst the Youth.
While her work has had impact, she also knows that boys need men to step up.
Peace Amongst the Youth is now looking for volunteers in the community to work with at-risk youth.
"Ideally, I would like to have certified male therapists, however, the need for males that are willing to volunteer their time, with the at risk youth is needed," she said. "With the current and political environment, it has become increasingly apparent that men can benefit from having a confidential, private space to explore the rapidly changing dynamics of what it means to be a man in today’s society."
Some issues that need to be discussed, she said, include anger and irritability, numbing or pushing away emotions and forgiveness.
It's important for the young men "to identify their feelings and have the ability to cope with them effectively after being impacted by violent crime and/or mass incarceration," she said.
To volunteer, emails Kellie Cors or Ruan Pugh at peaceamongstyouth@gmail.com with a letter of interest.
