LIMA (WLIO) - According to the Center for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), violence is a public health problem that has the potential of causing long-term physical and mental health issues.
Vibe Coffeehouse and Cafe teamed up with Crime Victim Services and local teens to put on "Through Our Eyes, a Youth Perspective on a Community Free from Violence," presented by the agency's Teen Ambassador Program.
The collection highlights the unique perspective in understanding the impact of current social issues and hopes for the future of Lima through photos and storytelling, told by teens.
Crime Victim Services, Director of Outreach and Prevention, Erin Ostling Burkholder added, "we're just really excited to be able to share this with the community with the hope that we are able to, then identify those projects and programs that we can lift up and amplify the things that makes them safe. And really work at how we correct and overcome some of those challenges that are getting in the way of that sense of safety."
"Showing the community what makes us safe and what makes us comfortable, versus what makes us unsafe and what makes us feel uncomfortable. In our pictures, there are things that we enjoy and there are things that we think can be changed around the community. So, we are going to work as a group to hopefully change the thing that makes us uncomfortable," stated Phoenix Matthews, Sophomore at Lima Senior High School.
In a recent survey of local high school students, protecting youth from violence and harm was identified as the number one priority.
