Handgun bans. Anti-gang crackdowns. Easy bail. In Toronto, as the number of people killed or injured in shootings continues to surge, such terms are often used by municipal leaders, politicians, police. But what do we really know about guns, gangs, and possible solutions to a growing violence problem? In an ongoing series, the Star is aiming to find answers … and to find out when we don’t know the answers … to some life-and-death questions.Rebecca Metcalfe has depended on a Scarborough drop-in program as a safe space to play basketball and take part in other activities since she was 14.Every Thursday and Friday, the towering 17-year-old can be found shooting hoops at the space operated by IMPACT ‘n Communities, a non-profit known for its youth programs.“Places like these help kids stay out of trouble,” says Metcalfe, who dreams of being a professional basketball player and sports journalist. Youth across the city rely on programs like IMPACT’s as safe havens in a city that has seen an increase in gun violence. They offer direct connections to mentors, nutritious snacks, homework help and recreation, opportunities that are especially needed in priority areas where poverty, racism and other factors put youth at risk. As governments and police grapple with how to curb the ongoing violence while communities suffer the trauma, those who run services for youth say these vital programs aimed at preventing youth from picking up a gun in the first place need to be better prioritized.“It seems like the government favours funding the police more than putting money into youth programs when we need the help more,” says Metcalfe. “We need more programs that can help this community grow and become more positive.”IMPACT’s drop-in on Kingston Road, one of two spaces the agency operates, once served as a place of comfort for Shyanne Charles, who frequented the program before she was shot and killed at a 2012 ...
|
