YOUTH AWARD WINNER

Too often when we discuss gangs, gun violence and other problems that harm young people, we focus only on what parents, police and other adults can do to help.

We forget that one of the most powerful forces at work in Norfolk today is the commitment of young people in the community to steer clear of crime and the behaviors that cause crime – and to guide their peers down the same path.

 Our next award winner certainly fulfills that role.

He helped organize a group of young people to partner with the Virginia Center for Public Safety for its annual Advocacy Day at the Virginia General Assembly. The youth met with Senator Yvonne Miller and encouraged her support for closing the gun show loophole – and then held a vigil on the Capitol grounds to remember the victims of gun violence. But, his commitment to stopping gun violence is a year-around commitment as he often urges friends and acquaintances to stay away from illegal firearms.

After being touched by gang violence, our winner helped develop anti-gang activities at his school and encouraged friends to become active in their communities and to avoid gangs.

Our winner is an asset to his school and community recreation programs: He organized a step team that performed at the Red Ribbon Talent Show and Youth Leadership Conference, to name two. 

Since 2005, our winner has been a key factor in brining youth from throughout Hampton Roads to help plan and implement the Youth Leadership Conference. In 2007, he  headed the conference’s most popular workshop – “The Positive and Negative Affects of Hip Hop” workshop.

His nominator says, “At a time when youth are getting involved in crime at a young age, he serves as a youth role model. His activism has attracted many youth away from gangs, guns and other crime activities.”

For this and other reasons, it gives me great pleasure to present the 2008 Youth Award to Antonio Mitchell, a 10th grader at Norview High School.