'Your Life Matters' Campaign Launches

Johnny Willis’ life was surrounded by violence and limited hope.

His friends were either in jail, or on that path. He was considering dropping out of high school.

But, Willis connected with a program called Prescription for Hope and is now working and enrolling in college.

"After I felt like I had people who cared for me and who were supporting me, I just wanted to make them proud," he said.  "And then when that comes, you want to make yourself proud."

Now, a new initiative is underway in Indianapolis to curb violence, particularly in the African American Community.

It’s called “Your Life Matters” and it will bring together community, faith and city groups to come up with solutions and preventative measures.

Indianapolis Mayor Greg Ballard says the goal of the campaign is to better connect families with programs such as the one that changed Willis’ life.

"This is not just a crime and a public safety message," said Ballard.  "This is an issue of public health."

The initiative includes investing $75,000 in the 2-1-1 hotline to provide family assistance.  The money will be used to hire two people that can aid with family counseling and outreach.

Other components of the campaign include collaboration among more than 60 organizations to work with troubled youth and a PSA campaign.

Pastor Charles Ellis of the Ten Point Coalition says action is needed now or problems will only get worse.

"We have to think of it and look at it as - this violence thing as an epidemic.  Just think if we thought of it as an epidemic - it was a virus that was ravaging our community.  We would take whatever steps necessary to eradicate it," said Ellis.  "That's the page we've got to be on.  That's what we've got to be about."

But, Ellis says the initiative is only a start, admitting it "won't solve all the problems" because the community must embrace a holistic approach.

"We know there are issues in education.  We know there are issues in lack of employment.  We know there are issues in poverty," he said.  "Those three things help drive the violence issue."

There have been more than 30 homicides in the city this year, which is ahead of last year's pace and 2013 was the deadliest in Indianapolis in six years.