The REAL program makes real change after teens are charged with violent crimes
NASHVILLE, Tenn. (WKRN) — It's a leading cause of death for kids and teens in Tennessee, and the further into the year we get, the more victims it claims.
We're talking about gun violence . Juvenile homicides are slightly up in Nashville, and so are juvenile arrests . However, the non-profit Oasis Center is working to help young people.
"I think we have a large amount of youth that are struggling," said Aaron Doxy, Program Manager of the REAL program . "We've had youth, whose entire families were in gangs. They see it on a normal basis with all of their friends or families."
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The Oasis Center is dedicated to helping young people in Middle Tennessee in all aspects of life. The REAL program works to give teens more than just a second chance, but an opportunity to leave the past in the past, and find a way forward.
"A lot of times we get answers like they don't really have anything in Nashville for them to be involved in," Doxy explained. "Those outlets are not really there for them, those youth. People [get] involved in gang activity in their communities, in their families — I think just [from] a lack of resources and feeling like they don't have a voice to be heard."
According to the Oasis Center, the REAL program has provided 76 youth with an alternative to the Juvenile Justice Center . Ninety-two percent of those in the program do not re-offend during the year.
The program comes at a vital time in many young lives. Daily, the average teen is juggling school, home life and pressure from peers. Not only does the program provide real conversations about what is happening in their lives, but it shows them a better life moving forward.
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"A lot of time they find themselves in a situation they say it's just fast and they just have to react," Doxy said. "We try to do things where we can train them in those situations. Okay, how would you handle a situation that seems fast-paced?"
Doxy explained that the program deals with teens coming out of the Juvenile Justice Center, many of them charged with petty crimes. By partnering with the Juvenile Justice Center, they are able to capture youth during a period of time where change can happen.
News 2 wanted to have a conversation with those who see what these teens are going through daily. According to unofficial data from the Metro Nashville Police Department, officers have made 993 juvenile arrests this year. That number includes a range of crimes: from truancy to curfew violations.
News 2 asked what those conversations look like when discussing teens after a crime is committed.
"That's tough, 'cause a lot of our youth that we have all have gun charges, and there's been some youth that has graduated into those higher crimes as well," Doxy said. "I asked, 'How do they handle these different things?' in our conversations and to them it's just normal."
So far in 2024, MNPD has reported 9 juvenile homicides. Often, teens are faced with internal battles: knowing the victim as well as the suspect in some cases.
"A lot of them know the victims or know of the person who committed the crime, and so it can be very charged," Doxy said. "We try to teach them to navigate through those emotions and displace those emotions in a positive way."
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Over the course of the 13-week REAL program, teens: • Engage in real talk about dreams, values, relationships, manhood, juvenile justice, and gangs • Connect with adults you can relate to • Build leadership skills • Participate in creative arts • Work on projects that improve our neighborhoods • Learn about different careers and colleges through tours and guest speakers • Spend quality time with family by going on field trips to museums, plays, and concerts
