CHARLOTTE, N.C. — Charlotte has seen a string of violent incidents involving young people in recent weeks.
The month of September saw a 14-year-old charged with the murder of a 16-year-old, three 21-year-olds charged in connection to a drive-by shooting that killed a 3-year-old and injured his 4-year-old sister, and a 19-year-old and 15-year-old charged in a shootout that injured a 15-year-old and 1-year-old.
The Charlotte-Mecklenburg Police Department also announced Wednesday there have also been five guns brought into CMS schools.
"Yes it is true that some guns have been recovered recently in schools," a CMPD representative said. "One gun is concerning, let alone five.”
"We want to do something about the gun violence here in Charlotte," Kyle Goodson, the founder of the nonviolence organization Not One More (NOMO), said.
Goodson isn’t alone.
"Every nonprofit, activist, organization is out there right now pounding the streets," Earl Owens III with the Genesis Project 1 said.
While organizations across the city hold event after event about nonviolence, they can only afford to do so much.
"If I were to say what would be needed, [it] would definitely be funding for the programs that are trying to impact these young people," Owens said.
"Yes, that’s a big barrier, we all need funding,” Goodson said.
"Any nonprofit or government group can be eligible for this grant," Candace Dudley with the North Carolina Council for Women and Youth Involvement said.
Dudley said they’re looking to award groups with programs specifically targeting high school students.
"The range of the grants can be from $100 to $500,” Dudley said.
Dudley said past recipients include school groups to large organizations like the Boys and Girls Club.
"I think it will help some organizations jump start some things they’ve been wanting to do," Dudley said. "I think the money can also help organizations see that the state is here to support them.”
For more grant opportunities, this website has developed a customized search of Grants.gov to help you find open grant announcements for programs that serve youth and their families.
Contact Lana Harris at lharris@wcnc.com and follow her on Facebook, Twitter and on Instagram.