BATON ROUGE, La. (BRPROUD) – The Louisiana Center for Health Equity recently hosted their annual Youth Peace Olympics event. This initiative started in Philadelphia and has been established in Baton Rouge for ten years.
“It didn’t matter that it didn’t seem to be growing, but it was growing continually, and now you see what has happened,” said Audrey Celistan.
Organizers began the initiative on Gardere Lane, one of Baton Rouge’s most high crime areas at the time. By bringing a program like this, they were able to motivate youth in the community to stray away from violence.
Alma Allen is the president and founder for the Louisiana Center for Health Equity. Allen said this wouldn’t be possible without residents stepping up.
“This community has been transformed, it is no longer the community with the highest crime rate. The community itself is thriving and growing, and that’s what happens when the homeowners, the community gets involved and they start to support the young people and they start bringing resources into their own community,” said Allen.
The event provided different health resources for all of the guests. There were also live performances from youth volunteers, who said they found purpose and fulfillment from attending this event.
Allen said from May until August they’ll start their monthly day camp free for children ages 10-17, every fourth Saturday of the month.
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