From the City of Fredericksburg:
Following events of violence in the community earlier this year, the Fredericksburg City Public Schools partnered with the City of Fredericksburg to form the FXBG Steering Committee on Teen Violence.
The committee consists of more than 30 members, including city officials, division leaders, parents, and community partners. The group has been meeting monthly since July, with a special focus on reducing teen violence.
To maximize the group’s efficiency, the committee is subdivided into four subcommittees: Youth Activities and Education, Youth Wellbeing, Parenting and Family Dynamics, and Community. All four subcommittees are also addressing the issue of social media and the negative impact it can have on each of these areas.
“Teen Violence Prevention is critical work – it is also bigger than any one organization can tackle alone,” said Timothy Baroody, Fredericksburg City Manager. “I’m grateful for the community members and organizations who have come to the table. The only way this works is by pulling together, and pooling our collective talents and resources to help create the peaceful community in which our residents of all ages can thrive.”
“The issue of teen violence extends far beyond school walls and can impact every corner of our community,” said Dr. Marci Catlett, Superintendent of Fredericksburg City Public Schools. “For that reason, we are committed to ongoing transparency and accountability throughout this process. As the committee continues to meet, we will keep sharing our progress with the entire community.”
The steering committee would like to highlight for the community some of the actions initiated that are intended to have an impact on reducing teen violence:
Mothers Opposed to Violence (MOV) Group: Mothers in the area have gathered as a group to create a presence at James Monroe High School.
Youth Council: The NAACP is establishing a local youth council.
Re-Implementation of Regional Gang Task Force: The Fredericksburg Police Department added a full-time gang detective and assisted with re-establishing a Regional Gang Task Force to focus on the specific issues associated with gang activity and violence.
Extracurricular Activities and Programming for Teens: The committee is helping plan activities, including spring/summer 2024 programming, the expansion of the FCPS James Farmer Scholars program in Grades 3-8, free open skate nights at the Dixon Park hockey rink, a division science writing contest for students in grades 5 and 8, and a summer basketball league with practices and games for 13- to 17-year-old kids.
New School Division Disciplinary Guidelines: FCPS implemented expectations that students do not have cell phones, hats, and hoodies while in school.
Inspiring Video Messages: Committee members produced videos that share messages of identity, belonging, connection, care, love, values, and self-esteem. They are being shared with the FCPS students as well as the community. To view the completed videos, please visit WeAreOne24401.com.
Mental Health Services: With support from Mary Washington Healthcare, a mental health professional has been added to provide in-school services to students.
Parent Education Options: The committee is communicating with community resources to plan and offer accessible parent education courses and programs.
Speak Out Event: The school division hosted a Speak Out event for students in grades 9-12 to share their voices with the FCPS school administration and School Board. Next steps include developing a task force dedicated to addressing student concerns shared during the event.
The FXBG Steering Committee on Teenage Violence would like to publicly thank the following partners for engaging in this critical collective engagement to support our community:
City of Fredericksburg
Fredericksburg City Public Schools
15th Judicial District Court Services
City of Fredericksburg Police Department
Fredericksburg City Council
Fredericksburg Commonwealth Attorney’s Office
Fredericksburg Department of Social Services
Fredericksburg Parks, Recreation and Events Department
Fredericksburg Sheriff’s Office
Kingdom Family Worship Center
Mary Washington HealthCare
Mayfield Civic Association
NAACP Fredericksburg Branch
Rappahannock Area Community Services Board
Rappahannock Area Health District
Rappahannock Area Office on Youth
Rappahannock Juvenile Center
Shiloh Baptist Church
St. George’s Episcopal Church
Virginia Area Youth Football Alliance
Next, the committee plans on formally charting its course with the creation of a clearly defined mission, vision, and goals. Simultaneously, efforts are underway to write a comprehensive action plan designed to guide the committee in their efforts. These strategic initiatives underscore the committee’s dedication to purposeful and enduring contributions.
For more information on this work, to include a month by month Roadmap of activities and a DRAFT Action Plan please see https://www.fredericksburgva.gov/1921/Community-Safety.
Any community member interested in deeper involvement with the FXBG Steering Committee on Teenage Violence is invited to contact Fredericksburg City Manager Tim Baroody at 540-372-1010 or Superintendent of FCPS Dr. Marci Catlett at 540-372-1130.
