COLUMBUS, Ohio-Mothers of Murdered Columbus Children launched a new summer program aimed at youth, emphasizing skills and lifestyles free from violence. The Trendy Trades initiative offers five-week sessions covering embroidery, interior painting, ASL, podcasting, and construction, focusing not just on vocational skills but also on mentoring for a nonviolent community lifestyle. Founder Malissa Thomas St. Clair tailored the program using crime data to target at-risk youth. Approximately 100 participants, including Zoey Johnson and Jarael Straughter, have joined, seeking solace and skills. The initiative, part of the Under Triple Digits Initiative, aims to curb Columbus homicides. Participants like Jarael, who lost siblings to gun violence, find hope and distraction in the program, hoping to turn their grief into positive outcomes.
