Teens talk safety with Florence leaders

West Florence High School sophomore Will Dixon said he used to think law enforcement officers weren’t really focused on helping teens.

But that changed after he participated in a focus group mediated by the Mayor’s Coalition to Prevent Juvenile Crime last week.

The group is one of several the coalition has hosted recently to get teens’ input on how to cut down on juvenile crime. It gives teens like Dixon an opportunity to voice their opinions on ideas they believe would bring about change.

“I’m glad they are (hosting these groups) because I really thought they weren’t really paying attention to us and just on the road doing something else,” he said. “And right now I’m just glad they included us into their decision.”

But the groups help the coalition, as well, by giving city leaders a chance to hear teens’ ideas on how to prolong the coalition’s success.

Dixon said he suggested, during the focus group meeting he attended, adding more recreation centers and sports opportunities for teens. He said anything that keeps teens busy can keep them out of trouble.

“Half the time I pick on my brother because I’m bored, and I get in trouble with my parents,” he said. “And I’m sure teens do that, and if they don’t have brothers or sisters they do it on somebody else and they get in real trouble.”

Dixon said he also supports a teen center, which had been advocated by Florence City Councilman Ed Robinson during recent city budget discussions but ultimately not funded for the next fiscal year.
Florence Mayor Stephen J. Wukela said even though it wasn’t funded, the idea behind the center is a move in the right direction.

“I think it was the council’s sense that although we weren’t willing to fund a teen center, that the spirit behind a proposal like that was something that were interested in,” he said. “And that’s kind of why we tasked the mayor’s coalition.”

Wukela and others agree getting input from teens themselves is the perfect way for the coalition to make progress.

“We clearly don’t subscribe to that old adage about children being seen and not heard,” Florence School District 1 Superintendent Larry Jackson said. “We, in fact, think they need to be heard.”

Jackson said the recent focus groups are only the beginning of an effort to generate more teen involvement in crime prevention. He said the coalition plans to create a junior youth council composed of students from all three Florence high schools: South Florence, West Florence and Wilson. His plan is for that group to periodically go before city council with ideas on how to enhance teens’ lives.

More teen involvement in the city’s plans is an idea that appeals to Dixon.

“Because then I get to post my opinion on stuff and actually get the word out on what other people like to do,” he said, adding that it feels good to know his input could improve the lives of other teens.

The coalition will present the data it collected from recent focus groups before Council during its next regular meeting at 1 p.m. Monday. It will be in Florence City-County Complex Room 604, 180 N. Irby St. For more information, call Dianne Rowan, clerk to council, at (843) 665-3113.