Keep6ix launches Youth in Music Program to tackle gun violence in the greater Toronto area

BY PAUL JUNOR

The non-profit organization Keep6ix continues to positively impact the lives of youth in the greater Toronto area through the programs and services that they provide.

They focus on creating lucid content that educates, transforms and empowers youth to discover their strengths, and how it can be reflected and shared in society. The website outlines that, “Keep6ix recognizes the lack of services and rehabilitative support to prevent and reduce young people from coming into conflict with the Criminal Justice System.”

The mission of Keep6ix is:

• Providing a holistic and integrated capacity-building programs to youth involved in the justice system
• Preventing youth from going down a disempowering path by providing one-on-one mentoring, career development and employment skills training
• Promoting healthy self-esteem through core life skills counselling to help build on their communication, interpersonal and leadership skills

Keep6ix provides a range of services and programs in: Brampton, Mississauga, Toronto, Pickering, Ajax, Whitby, and Newmarket that focus on a Youth Mentoring Program and Career Development Program. The 12-week mentoring program is designed to support youth who are experiencing negative and unhealthy distractions, delinquent behaviour and social barriers to completing their secondary diploma.

The goal of the career development program is to decrease unemployment within the community by providing a guided, purposeful pathway to employment in the construction industry. In addition to these programs, Keep6ix also provides services such as “Connect the 6ix” which is a weekly Instagram live connecting the 6ix, one interview at a time, celebrating members of the community and the work they do. They also have the “Empowerment to Unlock the Justice System,” which is a monthly Instagram live panel discussion streamed on Facebook and YouTube, which addresses the barriers in the criminal justice system and discusses solutions.

I interviewed Richard Miller, founder of Keep6ix to learn about one of his exciting new initiatives, “Youth -In-Music Program,” which was launched on Wednesday, June 29^th.

Richard shared with me that he started Keep6ix five years ago to alleviate gun violence among youths. Initially, he received support from Yonge St. Mission, which led him to focus on “Guns for Tuition” as a pathway to get guns off the streets of Toronto.

Richard believes that poverty is at the root of the issue of gun violence. He told me how the City of Brampton has been supportive of the work that he does. This new music initiative was developed in partnership with Canadian Black Chamber of Commerce, Vance World Media, and U Music, which according to the press release is a means to prevent gun violence in our communities

Richard shared details about the 12-week program, which will involve legendary Liberty Silver and Vance Mackenzie. It is intended to engage youth in performing art studies as they learn music strategies through: creating, presenting, reflecting, responding and analyzing music theory.

Anyone interested in learning about Keep6ix can visit:

Website:www.keep6ix.org

Instagram: @keep6ixorg

Facebook:Keep6ix

Youtube:Keep6ix.Org