When it comes to de-escalating fights between young people, Kay Wilson’s first tactic is to get them talking.
That approach came in handy a couple years ago when Wilson was supervising teens in her Columbus youth leadership organization as they were playing basketball in a park. An argument broke out, and one boy grabbed a knife from his gym bag and proceeded to charge at another.
Wilson and her program manager quickly ran up to them to intervene.
“All I was doing was asking questions,” said Wilson, 50, of Northeast Columbus. “Is it worth going to jail for it? Why are you so mad? Is it because everybody else is around?
Sleep Out Columbus Benefitting the Huckleberry House
6:00pm - 6:30am
1421 Hamlet StColumbusOH43201
Starting April 16, 2021 join Mix 107.9 along with all of Columbus in supporting SLEEP OUT! to raise awareness and funds in support of homeless youth.
By registering to sleep out, you are supporting Huckleberry House’s proven programs. In 2020, Huck House provided 19,529 nights of shelter in its housing programs and teen crisis shelter.
FRIDAY 6:00 – 7:30 PM Participant packet pick up
FRIDAY 6:30 PM Live Stream Kick-Off
FRIDAY NIGHT Participants sleep out at home in a space that allows them to reflect on what youth experiencing homelessness face in our city.
This year’s event will be virtual and registration is open until March 30 at www.huckhouse.org/sleep-out.
Jerome DeCarlo received a COVID-19 vaccine on Dec. 31. He is an essential worker but doesn’t work in a hospital or a nursing home.
DeCarlo serves as the coordinator at Marsh Brook Place, a 40-unit apartment complex on the Southeast Side for young people ages 18 to 24 who have faced homelessness or other serious barriers to stability such as being a victim of domestic violence or dealing with mental health or substance abuse issues.
“We are boots on the ground, said DeCarlo
, who is employed by Huckleberry House, a youth-serving nonprofit agency that provides on-site services such as counseling and job training at Marsh Brook.