A group of volunteers and donors say they're working to do their part to end youth violence. They say it starts with mentors and role role models making themselves available to young people.
"We're going to have a lot of parents and children to feed," sais Lumar Lowe who is spending his time prepping a kitchen in time for a huge event this weekend. The 23 year old is set to cook up hundreds of meals to dish out at the "I Am Not Fogotten Youth Conference."
Veronica Spann is heading the event at the Crossing Church in South Macon which is set to happen November 5th and 6th from 10am to 6pm. She says it's free and is geared toward uplifting young people.
"I just wanted to see a difference. I wanted to make a difference in the lives of children, youth in the community as well as the parents because what we have right now, there's a lot of violence going on and we just want to uplift them and encourage them," said Spann.
Her 20 year old daughter Eboni is also on board to help. She says the conference offers everything to inspire kids to get serious about their future.
Eboni Spann told Eyewitness News, "We're giving them food, we're giving them speakers from out of the city, things that will be intriguing to them so that they will come back for more."
Lowe says some of the children who will attend may be on a path to destruction. Setting them on the right track he says is their goal.
"I hope that situations like what Ms. Veronica opened up really gets a reach to them because i never want anybody to have anythign bad happen to them or go the wrong direction when they could have went in the right direction," said Lowe.
Spann says hundreds of young people ages 12 to 20 will fill the seats inside The Crossing Church sanctuary for the conference.
"They can expect to experience a life changing event. We've been preparing for this event for two months now and the main thing is to just give back to our kids and to let them know that we do love them and to see it come together is awesome," said Spann.
Spann is working to put on the conference at least three times a year.
The "I Am Not Fogotten" Youth Conference is Saturday November 5th through Sunday, November 6th from 10am to 6pm at the Crossing Church in South Macon located at 4500 Chapel Hill Road.
For more information and to register for the free event, call 478-254-2083.