News Flash

April 12, 2021 - Hampton Mayor Donnie Tuck will host a special online Mayors Forum tonight to discuss the challenges of youth violence. He'll be joined by Bobby Dyer, the mayor of Virginia Beach; Rick West, the mayor of Chesapeake; Shannon Glover, the mayor of Portsmouth; McKinley Price, the mayor of Newport News; Michael Duman, the mayor of Suffolk, and Kenny Alexander, the mayor of Norfolk. Anthony Smith, executive director of Cities United – a national network focused on eliminating violence in American cities related to African American men and boys – will also join the conversation.

The forum will air live on the city’s Facebook page, where viewers can watch and ask questions. A number of other online events, part of a five-day Urgency of Now Symposium sponsored by Hampton's Office of Youth and Young Adult Opportunities, will be held throughout the week. You can register to join, and get more details, at hampton.gov/ruon:

• Tuesday, April 13, 5-6 p.m.: Youth and Young Adult Conversation: “YOU”th are the Solution 
• Tuesday, April 13, 6:30-8 p.m.: Community Conversations: My Past Will Not Define My Future or My Community
• Wednesday, April 14, 11 a.m.-noon: Faith in Action, Promoting Wellness in Our Communities
• Thursday, April 15, noon-1 p.m.: Lunch and Learn: The Importance of Family and Community Support
• Friday, April 16: Family Game Night. Pick up your game night kit and snack at Y.H. Thomas Community Center from 12:30-5:30 pm. Make sure you take a photo of your family night and share it using #ruon.
• Friday, April 16, 5-6 p.m.: Unite in Action! The Impact of Gun Violence in Communities of Color. Unite in Action Challenge: Design a service-learning project where groups of trusted adults and young people work together to share information about positive resources and ways to reduce violence in the community. Must be a project developed by youth and adults. Winners will be announced on May 3rd and will receive funding to put their plan into action. Projects due Sunday, June 20.

 For more information contact Synethia White, program manager at the Office of Youth and Young Adult Opportunities, at swhite@hampton.gov, or call  757-727-2730.