Project Imagine, a program dedicated to steering youths away from gang activity and community violence, recently celebrated the graduation of its 26th class. The latest class, consisting of nine students, brings the total number of teenagers who have completed the program since its inception to 165.

Graduating in the latest class were Byron Adkins, Mason Adkins, Tyonte Dawkins, Antasia Morton, Donavan Reaves, Shmjay Richardson, Zyere Smith, Timorris Smith, and Keara Tanner.

Led by Robert David, violence prevention manager for the City of Danville, the program pairs teens with mentors and focuses on goals such as having no contact with law enforcement, improving academic performance, completing school, and becoming employed.

“A lot of people talk about wanting to make a change, but when it comes to doing what you need to do, not everyone is willing to pay the price,” David told the graduates. “You paid the price (by going through the program). … You made up your mind to come here and say, ‘I am going to do something different. I am going to take a different direction and try something I haven’t tried before.’ To me, that is paying the price.”

David added, “That is how you change the direction of your life. You talk with any adult who has been successful, and they will tell you the first thing they did was make up their mind. This is the first step of change. You made up your mind to come here (and go through this program). … This is something big because this is the point where your life will change.”

David and his staff of outreach workers have embraced the phrase “your new aunts and uncles,” signifying their commitment to serve as a support system for the youths.

“I know what guidance, mentorship, hope and belief, and somebody being there can do for a young person,” David said. “It can be the difference between living a life of success and laying in the street. Our job is to keep these young men and women moving forward.”

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 is based on the evidence-based theory of Cognitive Behavior Therapy in that if a 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 he or she can “imagine” a life without gangs or crime.

The teens in Project Imagine are chosen from referrals from the police department, the courts, schools, and parents.

David and the Project Imagine model have received national recognition. Last month, David was selected as the 2024 recipient of the Chairman Emeritus Award by the National Association of Blacks in Criminal Justice.

Last year, David received the Youth Workforce Professional of the Year award from the National Association of Workforce Development Professionals. In 2022, he was named to the Engaging Local Government Leaders Top 100 Influencers in Local Government.

In 2020, the National Gang Crime Research Center named David a winner of the Frederic Milton Thrasher Award. The award recognized his accomplishments in gang prevention and intervention.

In 2019, Project Imagine received the President’s Award from the Virginia Municipal League.