COLUMBUS, Ohio-This weekend, the Wedgewood neighborhood in Columbus hosted the Hilltop Youth Rise Festival, shifting the focus from crime to community building. Organized by Bashir Ahmed of MY Project USA, the event aimed to foster safer futures for local youth amid rising violence, including 67 felony assaults and two homicides reported this year. Ahmed emphasized the importance of preserving children’s innocence in environments that can be dangerous. He drew parallels between Wedgewood and his own neighborhood, South Park, highlighting shared struggles with youth violence and drugs. Zerqa Abid, founder of MY Project USA, noted that police presence often only follows tragic events, contributing to fear and trauma among children. To build positive relationships, the organization invited local police to participate in the festival.
