Champions of Change Boxing Program Opens in Roanoke, Providing Safe Space for Youth
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ROANOKE, โคVa. – On July 31, the Roanoke Police Department’s RESET team launched the Champions of Change Boxing Program, a new initiative designedโฃ to offer a constructive outlet for young people in the city. โฃTheโ program aims to address rising concerns about youth violence โbyโ providing a โฃsafe and supportive environment โforโข physical activity and mentorship.
A โYears-Long Visionโ Realized
The project, several years inโ growth, stemmed from โฃa conversation between RESETโ Coordinator Lloyd Merchant and โฃa โคlocal boxing โคcoach. “He had an idea about, let’s go โขin and see if we canโค have โa space for boxing,” Merchant explained.โข The program began modestly, utilizing space at the YMCA one night a week before expanding to its own dedicated facility.
Addressing โa Critical Need
The Champions of Change program directly responds toโค the increasing rates of โคyouth involvement โขin risky behaviors. Participants like Keith Moore emphasize the โprogram’s role in steering young peopleโฃ away from negative influences. “we โhelp kids to โstay โout of bad situations, getting โคto gang related stuff or doing bad things in theโฃ street,” Moore said. “So โif you have anโ activity to do, keep your mind in theโข right place.”
Didโข You Know? Studies show that participation in structured after-school activities,โค like boxing, can significantly โreduce juvenile โdelinquency rates [[1]]?
Mentorship as a Cornerstone
Beyond boxing training, the program prioritizes mentorship. Mentors, like Everett Sawin, recognize theโ importance of individual support in addressing the root causes ofโ violence. “It looks like with all the gun violence in Roanoke City, we need an answer, and all people can do is one kid โฃat a time,” Sawin stated. โข”Iโ don’t have some big solution, but I know if โyou go out there and you help all that โคyou have the influence over,โ and you canโค do everything in your power to help it, I think we’llโฃ allโ be in โa โขbetter position.”
the mentors frequently enough serve as positive roleโฃ models, offering guidance โฃand support that extends beyond theโ gym. Moore described the mentors as “like a โfather figure in some โsort of way, teaching me whatโค to do right, โขwhat not to do.”
Building a Community
The โคprogram fosters a sense of community and โคbelonging, recognizing that many young people lack consistentโฃ support systems. “We tryโ to be a family here,” Merchant โขsaid. โ”A โฃlot of these kids, โthey just need people to talk to. A lot โขof them, they’re โฃon their phones all theโค time, they got nobody to talk to, or they got problems going on, they don’t want to share with anybody.”
Proโฃ Tip: Creating safe spaces โfor youth is a key component of community-basedโ violence prevention strategies, as outlined by theโข Centers for Disease Control and Prevention โ [[2]].
Future Expansion Plans
Looking ahead, Merchant envisions expanding the program’s reach to include weekend sessions. “We’re hoping to grow soโข we can openโฃ up โmore, to include maybe the weekend orโ Saturday, as weโ want to invite โthose individuals thatโฃ might โpotentially be out here challenged โwith riskโฃ factors that they deal with on a daily, weekly basis, and we want โthem to come here โto a safe โspace.”
| Program Element | Description |
|---|---|
| Launch Date | July 31, 2025 |
| Sponsoring Institution | Roanoke โPolice Department’s RESET Team |
| Primary Goal | Provide a โฃsafe space and mentorship for youth and young adults |
| Initial Location | Dedicatedโข facility in Roanoke, VA (formerlyโฃ YMCA) |
What impact do you thinkโข community-led initiatives like thisโ can have on reducing youth violence? How can cities better support programs that offer positive alternatives for โฃyoung people?
Evergreen Context: The โขRise of Youth Violence Prevention Programs
the Champions โof Change Boxing โคProgram โis part โฃof a growing national trend โtowardโ community-based violence prevention initiatives.These programs recognizeโข that โคaddressing youth violence requires aโ multifacetedโ approach that goes beyondโค law enforcement, focusing on providing opportunities, mentorship, and supportโฃ systems for at-riskโ individuals. The โฃsuccess of these programs often hinges on strong partnerships between law enforcement, community organizations, andโ local leaders.
Frequently Asked Questions
- What is the Champions ofโ Change Boxing program? โขIt’s a new initiative in Roanoke, Virginia, offering boxing training and mentorship to youth and young adults.
- Who is eligible to participate โin the program? The programโฃ is open to youth and young adults in the Roanoke area.
- What are the goals of the program? โ The primary goals are to provide a safe space, reduce youth violence, andโ offer positive mentorship.
- How did the Champions โฃof Changeโ program get started? โขIt began as an idea from a โlocal boxing coach andโ evolved from a small YMCA โprogram.
- What are the โfutureโ plans for the โฃprogram? Organizers hope to expand the โฃprogram to include weekend sessions.
We hope this storyโข inspires you. Share it โwith your network, leave โa comment below, or subscribe to our newsletter for more impactfulโค stories like this one.