The District is facing a budget shortfall well over a hundred million dollars.

But as Jessica Forres reports... Mayor Adrian Fenty remains committed to funding programs to prevent teen violence in the city.


At sixteen, Eugene Whittiesbey says he was arrested for a crime that landed him in prison for seven and a half years....

I HAD SOME TIME TO THINK. LIKE I SAID I WAS IN A FEDERAL PENETENTIONARY WHEN I TURNED THE AGE OF 18. I DIDN'T WANT THE KIDS TO MAKE THE SAME MISTAKE THAT I MADE.

The twenty six year-old now works for Peaceoholics…a non-profit group that works with gangs to prevent street violence.

Peaceoholics, ROPE Inc and the Latin American Youth Center were awarded nearly 240,000 dollars by the city to mentor and reach out to at-risk teens in targeted neighborhoods. Mai Fernandez is with the Center.

GETTING THESE YOUNG PEOPLE INTO POSITIVE TYPES OF ACTIVITIES. SOMETIMES IT'S A DANCE CLASS, SOMETIMES IT'S A WORKSHOPS, SOMETIMES IT'S A FIELD TRIP. BECAUSE OFTENTIMES PEOPLE ASK ME WHAT THE BIGGEST ROOT OF GANG VIOLENCE IS AND I OFTEN SAY BOREDOM.

Mayor Fenty says these groups have had great success at combating teen violence.

THE GOVERNMENT COULD NEVER BUILD THE TRUST WITH YOUNG PEOPLE THESE ORGANIZATIONS COULD BUILD. BUT EVEN MORE THAN THAT THEY ARE ABLE TO TO DO A LOT WITH VERY LITTLE.

Fenty says the At-Risk Youth Assistance Program will target teens and young adults living in five of the city's most dangerous neighborhoods.

Jessica Forres WAMU 885 News

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The District is helping three local organizations tackle violence among teens and young adults living in the city's most dangerous neighborhoods…

Jessica Forres reports…

At Hart Middle School in Southeast, DC, Eugene Whittiesbey is listening as Mayor Adrian Fenty announces the city's commitment to funding the At-Risk Youth Assistance Program....

ONE OF THE GREAT NEEDS THAT CONTINUES THAT TO GO UNDERFUNDED IS WORK WITH YOUNG PEOPLE IN THIS CITY WHO YOU COULD CLASSIFY AS DISCONNECTED OR REALLY JUST IN PLAIN ENGLISH, YOUNG PEOPLE WHO NEED ADULTS…

Whittiesbey was one of those disconnected teenagers…at 16 he he was arrested for a crime he prefers not to discuss....

I WAS INCARCERATED FOR SEVEN AND A HALF YEARS. I CAME HOME IN JANUARY 24, 2007 AND THEN FROM THERE I WAS ALWAYS WANTING TO GIVE BACK TO MY COMMUNITY.

Whittiesbey now works for Peaceoholics…one of the three non-profit groups that will share a 239-thousand dollar grant from the DC Children and Youth Investment Trust Corporation. Ronald Moten, Peaceoholics co-founder says he will hire five new employees with the money...

WE HELP THE CHILDREN GET TO CLASS. WE HELP IDENTIFY PROBLEMS IN THE HOUSEHOLD AND IN THE COMMUNITY.

Though the District is facing a budget shortfall, Mayor Fenty says funding for the program should be increased and part of the annual budget...

IF WE CAN BUILD THIS IN TO AN ANNUAL BUDGET AFTER WE'VE DONE A COMPETITIVE PROCESS LIKE THIS THEN THEY HAVE MORE CERTAINTY. WE HAVE TO AS A GOVERNMENT FUND ORGANIZATIONS LIKE THIS.

The Latin American Youth Center and ROPE Inc.will share the remaining grant money.

Jessica Forres WAMU 885 News