DES MOINES, Iowa — During summer vacation, it can be hard for parents to keep their kids on a healthy schedule and out of trouble, something Founder and CEO of Creative Visions Ako Abdul-Samad said his organization is working on.
"Young people are still looking for things to get involved with and things to do for the summer," he said.
Abdul-Samad and his team have their boots on the ground to help make sure young Iowans stay on the right track. So far, he said their response in the Drake and Evelyn K. Davis park area is making a difference.
"In our zone, areas that we have, that we've been working the last three years, we're not seeing an increase of violence, you know, and that's what individuals need to understand. You know, we've actually seen a serious decrease in the violence," Abdul-Samad said. "Now, other areas, yes, have picked up."
Creative Visions hopes it can extend it's resources to help other areas showing an increased need like the south and east sides of Des Moines.
"You know, that's what we're seeing. An increase of violence picking up, whether it's domestic or that type of thing. And we're hoping in, you know, in the future, to be able to send our violence interrupter team over there," Abdul-Samad said.
The non-profit Hip-Hope said it's helping the youth make good choices this summer in other ways: offering summer camps, financial literacy programs and events geared towards the youth.
"I think it's important to continue to keep the learning going, right? You don't want to keep on selling for too long, not when there's things that they can continue to develop on," CEO Valora James said.
Hip-Hope notes their events allow a space for parents to join in on their child's participation. It said it takes a village to ensure positive change in the community.
"It takes the community, it takes the adults. It takes our youth. It takes everybody that is impacting them that is everybody," Valora James said.
Abdul-Samad's advice to parents on how to ensure a child makes the most out of their summer, is simple.
"Tie your young people into something that would be beneficial for them, you know, and get involved," he said.
For full details on Hip-Hope's events head to their website.