LIMA, Ohio (WLIO) - Students from across Allen County are spending the week building skills to create a violence-free community.
The second annual Anti-Violence Teen Retreat, hosted by Crime Victim Services, gave middle and high schoolers a chance to learn about leadership, self-care and maintaining healthy relationships. The program has nearly doubled in size since last year.
The goal is for students to take what they’ve learned and apply it in their schools and neighborhoods year-round.
“There is so much happening in our community, so much happening in our country that is unsafe and unhealthy for kids in particular. We've seen that need in our schools and our communities where kids just want a place that is safe for them to be. They want to grow those skills, they want to be leaders, and they want to shape a world where they feel comfortable. So this creates that kind of space where they're empowered to navigate that development,” said Erin Ostling Burkholder, director of outreach and prevention for Crime Victim Services.
Organizers say the event would not have been possible without support from local businesses that donated meals throughout the week.
The goal is for students to take what they’ve learned and apply it in their schools and neighborhoods year-round.
