Champaign ‘Beat the Streets’ event aims to curb youth gun violence

CHAMPAIGN, Ill. (WCIA) — Kids in Champaign were at Centennial Park on Saturday afternoon for a very important message.

Mentors from Angel’s Youth Center and parents shared the dangers of gun violence. Sa’kinah Williams, a teacher and mentor with the center, said the message was conveyed through a day filled with fun.

“There’s more to life than the gun violence; than, you know, some of the negativity that’s going on in the community,” she said.

Angel’s Youth Center hosted their fourth annual “Beat the Streets” event. Center Executive Director Angelica Johnson said the event was created to educate kids about the dangers of gun violence.

“To be honest, our youth is leaving here soon,” she said. “They’re leaving really soon and you know, they’re not having a fair chance at life. And so I don’t think, sometimes, the students and the youth know how dangerous it is and know that it’s permanent when someone is taken away from this earth. It’s permanent. And so just keeping those guns off and everybody just working together is really important.”

They welcomed nearly 50 kids from throughout Central Illinois to Champaign’s Centennial Park. Mentors with the center, parents, and Champaign Police shared the serious message through fun activities and games.

Williams said positive influences go a long way in delivering the message.

“It’s very important for us to have positive role models for our kids, because they need someone to look up to. You always want to be the best person that you can when there are kids watching because they model after us. And it’s important that we build their character from a young age, so when we’re doing good, they see that we’re doing good. They can, in turn, do good.”

Johnson said building positive relationships leads to safe communities.

“The children need to realize that if they reach out to one of us, someone will be able to help them,” she said.

Organizers said the event will return for a fifth year back at Centennial next summer.

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