Seven teenagers were honored last week for completing life skills training and goalsetting exercises through Project Imagine, which is a community violence intervention collaborative to steer youths away from gang activity.
Graduating were Chase Hannah, Ollie Jeffries, Kemariee Johnson, Kennedy Morrison, Da’von Pounds, Tieyon Torain, and Ziquan Watkins.
Robert David, violence prevention manager for Project Imagine, commended the graduates for taking the time to go through the program. David said that he and his staff understand that youths often endure many things that prevent them from seeing the possibilities for a positive future.
“With Project Imagine, as you know, we give you resources and opportunities to be something that you want to be, and in an atmosphere where you can be yourself on your way to achieving your dreams,” David said. “We thank you for taking the initiative to move forward.”
The program steers youths away from gang activity by developing and maintaining relationships with mentors, and by focusing on goals such as having no contact with law enforcement, improving their grades, completing school, and becoming employed.
As part of the program, the youths receive strength-based assessments using the Casey Life Skills and Clifton Strengths tools. These tools are used to place youths on a path toward developing healthy, productive lives.
Also, a Project Imagine outreach worker is assigned to mentor each youth for a minimum of one year. Project Imagine staff tag the phrase “your new aunts and uncles,” meaning that they will serve as a support system for the youths.
Deputy City Manager Earl Reynolds encouraged the youths to pursue knowledge and excellence.
“The more knowledge you have, the more powerful you are,” Reynolds said. “Why? It’s because you can do more things. … Life does not pay you to sit on the bench. Life pays you to get in the game. How do you get in the game? It’s with knowledge.”
Reynolds continued, saying, “We all have different interests, but whatever you do, do it excellently – not just well, but excellently. Gain more knowledge. Gain more understanding. Become excellent at it. The world will open up for you.”
Since the program’s inception, 20 classes, totaling more than 100 teens, have graduated.
Project Imagine is based on the evidence-based theory of Cognitive Behavior Therapy in that if the youth can implement new information and standards, then he or she can change their behavior. The idea is that the program creates a positive “image” in the mind of a youth so that they he or she can “imagine” a life without gangs or crime.
The teens in Project Imagine are chosen from referrals from the police department, courts, schools, and parents.
Project Imagine has received national recognition. In 2020, Robert David, violence prevention manager, was named a winner of the Frederic Milton Thrasher Award by the National Gang Crime Research Center. The award recognizes his accomplishments in gang prevention and intervention.
The program also received the President’s Award from the Virginia Municipal League in October 2019.